Eel – Banded Moray

Banded Moray Eel Care Tips:

Minimum Tank Size:  80 Gallons

Max Size: Up to 70cm (2′ 4″)

Diet: Carnivore

Temperament: Aggressive (Will prey upon small fish)

Lifespan: Up to 40 years

Scientific Name: Echidna Polyzona

Coral Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: Yes with caution (May prey upon crustaceans and ornamental shrimp when juvenile)

Approx. Purchase Size:  6-8 inches

The banded moray eel, scientific name Echidna Polyzona is an aggressive fish. Their minimum tank size is 80 gallons. They can reach up to 2′ 4” and can live up to 40 years. Banded moray eels will thicken a little as they grow in length. Banded moray eels are carnivores, they should be direct fed with long tweezers with small chunks of any type of meaty foods such as fish, shrimp, octopus and other types of sea food. Their food should not be much bigger than their head, large pieces can cause eels to choke. Eels should be fed every 2-3 days minimum. In a new environment eels can go on “hunger strike” and refuse to eat, continue to keep trying the following day if the eel won’t eat the first day. Banded moray eels can be kept singly, in pairs (if they are the same size roughly) and they can also be housed with many other eels (as long as their similar in thickness). Banded moray eels are coral safe and invertebrate safe with caution. Banded moray eels will prey upon crustaceans, ornamental shrimp and small fish. Feeding more often can keep their aggression level down. Banded moray eels will find a cave, a rock or a tube to stay in most of the time as their “house” they will often be seen sticking their head out of their cave during the day, when they are hungry they will be running around the tank. Eels are escape artists, they require a tight fitting lid (with no holes), eels can climb out of the water a few inches, lowering the water level in the tank 1-2” can also help keep the eel from escaping. Eels can live out of water for roughly 12 hours so if they are found on the floor put them back into the tank. Searching for and finding your eel every morning and every night can help ensure they are not on the ground for 12 hours.