Eels
These fishes belong in the "Order Anguilliformes" which contains Suborder Muraenoidei (Family Muraenidae" (Moray Eels) and Suborder Congroidei (Family Heterocongridae (Conger Eels & Garden Eels) and Family Ophichthidae (Snake Eels & Worm Eels))) consisting of 8 subfamilies, 110+ genera, and 550+ species.
Most that are of hobbyist interest are nocturnal creatures staying in caves and crevices during the day with their heads barely showing. They venture out during evening hours in the search of small fish, invertebrate, and crustaceans. Others are daytime hunters checking out various holes and crevices in hope of finding a meal. Some prefer crustaceans, while other prefer small fishes. Others burrow into sandy areas and watch for passing meals of interest.
Some have very bad eyesight and rely on sense of smell for catching their prey. Remember that they don't know your fingers from other meaty foods, so don't put your fingers near their mouth. A well-covered aquarium is also a good idea as they have a propensity for escaping. They are carnivores and require a diet of fresh fish flesh, clams, and/or crustaceans. They lack scales and to protect themselves, and generate copious amounts of body slime.
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This genus is often called 'Pebbletooth Morays, and has one very well known species, the Snowflake Moray (E. nebulosa), yet contains some others that are often seen in the trade.
Often called 'Dragon Morays,' these morays like to hide during the day, yet hunt and feed at night.
This genus contains only one distinct species.
Often called 'Sharp-Toothed Morays' and the most widely spread of all the moray genera.
Sometimes referred to as 'Horned Morays' as they have tubular rear nostrils, otherwise similar to the genus Gymnothorax.
This moray eel is commonly called a 'Ribbon Eel.' The adult is blue, yet the juvenile is black. Sometimes sold as two different species, yet their age determines their color. Juveniles are black, males are blue, and females change from black to yellow.
Commonly called 'Shortfinned' morays and is sometimes considered a subgenus of Uropterygius.
Commonly called 'Snake Morays' these highly secretive morays spend most of their time in deep reef crevices and are rarely seen.
Snake eels differ from morays, as they prefer sandy holes in open sandy and muddy flats and/or in seagrass beds rather than caves and rocky holes. If housed in aquariums, they need large swimming areas and a deep sandbed. They are rarely seen in the trade, difficult to maintain in captivity, and honestly, better left in the wild.
Most are nocturnal and feed on crustaceans and small fishes, much like morays eels and require similar husbandry.
Garden eels are shy and different from conger eels, as they require a very deep sandy substrate, i.e., 8 - 15 inches (20 - 37 cm) in depth. If not deep enough, they may damage their tail, as they like to retreat fully into their burrow if disturbed. They feed on plankton, small fishes, and some benthic invertebrate, with the current bringing them their food supply as they stay mostly within the confines of their burrow. They are probably better suited in tall show aquariums.
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