Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Gymnothorax

Gymnothorax moringa

(Cuvier, 1829)

Spotted Moray

Likely Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Western Atlantic Ocean: North Carolina to the Caribbean, south to Brazil, and also the Ascension and and St. Helena Islands.

Size: 48 inches (120 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow rocky and grassy areas on reefs at depths between 3 to about 150 feet (1 – 45 m) and feeds both in the daytime and at night mainly on smaller fishes and crustaceans.

General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade, having a white or yellowish body filled brown spots. Sometimes seen as the ‘Assorted Moray.’

Best maintained in a dimly lit aquarium having live rock, hiding places/caves, and tankmates large enough not to be eaten.

As to diet, fresh fish and/or crustacean flesh impaled on a long feeding stick and waved near its head, which usually sticks out of a hiding area, will entice it to grab the food and should be offered twice weekly.

Taxonomy:

    Order: Anguilliformes

    Suborder: Muraenoidei

    Family: Muraenidae

    Subfamily: Muraeninae

    Genus: Gymnothorax

FYI: Avoid hand feeding!

May be difficult to get feeding, if so, try feeding live ghost/grass shrimp and/or small crabs, e.g., fiddler crabs.

Aquarium must be covered, as they can get out of the aquarium through very small openings. Its an escape artist.

Rockwork in the aquarium should be quite stable, as they can undermine rock structures and cause their collapse.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Semi-aggressive

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: With caution

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Semi-aggressive

Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 80°F (22 – 27°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5

 Gymnothorax moringa (Spotted Moray)
Photo © Robert Patzner
Site Supported in Part by:
Ocean Nutrition