Eel – Cheetah Moray

Cheetah Moray Eel Care Tips:

Minimum Tank Size:  100 Gallons

Max Size: Up to 75cm (2’6″)

Diet: Carnivore (Will eat small fish)

Temperament: Semi-aggressive

Lifespan: Up to 30 years

Scientific Name: Gymnothorax Fimbriatus

Other Common Names: Fimbriated Moray Eel, Yellow-head Moray Eel

Coral Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: Yes with caution (will eat shrimp)

Approx. Purchase Size:  7-10 inches

The cheetah moray eel, scientific name Gymnothorax Fimbriatus is an aggressive fish. Their minimum tank size is 80 gallons. They can reach up to 2’ 6” and can live up to 30 years. Cheetah moray eels will thicken a little as they grow in length. Cheetah 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. Cheetah 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). Cheetah moray eels are coral safe and invertebrate safe with caution. Cheetah moray eels will prey upon small crustaceans, ornamental shrimp and small fish. Feeding more often can keep their aggression level down. Cheetah 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. Cheetah moray eels are also referred to as fimbriated moray eel and the yellow head moray eel.