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Yellowhead Moray Eel

Dark-spotted Moray Eel ~ Fimbriated Moray Eel

Family: MuraenidaeGymnothorax fimbriatusPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

   We bought this eel as a "Leopard Eel" but have failed to find out exactly what kind of eel it really is. This eel has the coloring and looks of the Yellowhead Moray Eel, Dark-spotted Eel, or Fimbriated Moray Eel, Gymnothorax fimbriatus. It has connected spots in a less random manner than those we've seen in Atlases, however, the moray's are known to come in a variety of patterns!

   The Yellowhead Moray Eel, Dark-spotted Eel, or Fimbriated Moray Eel is like most other, being a hardy animal that likes holes to hide in and eats live, meaty foods. This species is commonly seen and will only grow only up to 30". It is a hardy and fairly peaceful species for the marine aquarium.

   If you find one that is called a Leopard Moray Eel, and it has the coloration and patterning of the one above, you most likely are looking at the Yellowhead Moray Eel, Dark-spotted Eel, or Fimbriated Moray Eel rather than a "Leopard Moray Eel".

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Marine Aquarium

Maintenance difficulty:    The Yellowhead Moray Eel, Dark-spotted Eel, or Fimbriated Moray Eel is easy to keep. Most eels are very hardy and readily eat all kinds of live and meaty foods.

Maintenance:    Feed all kinds of live fish and meaty foods. Use a poker if necessary at first to place the food right in front of their mouth. Don't worry if it doesn't eat for a while at first, they can go for several weeks without food (and often do).

Habitat: Natural geographic location:    Yellowhead Moray Eel, Dark-spotted Eel, or Fimbriated Moray Eel are found in the Indo-Pacific.

Foods:    They feed mainly on small fishes in the wild with an occasional invertebrate.

Social Behaviors:
   Sociable and peaceful, can be considered a community fish as long as the tankmates are not small enough to eat!

Sex: Sexual differences:    Unknown.

Breeding/Reproduction:    Probably not possible in the aquarium. See Breeding Marine Fish page for a description of how they reproduce in the wild.

   Several freshwater species of eels are known to lay their eggs in the ocean and die afterwards.

Light: Recommended light levels:    No special requirements.

Temperature:    No special requirements. Normal temperatures for marine fish is between 74 and 79 degrees Fahrenheit.

Length/Diameter of fish:    Yellowhead Moray Eel, Dark-spotted Eel, or Fimbriated Moray Eel adults can grow to 80cm (32 inches), the eel pictured above is about 16 inches long.

Minimum Tank Length/Size:    A minimum 60 gallon aquarium is recommended.

Water Movement: Weak, Moderate, Strong    No special requirements.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom    Will generally stay in the bottom of the aquarium. Will find a cave or crawl under a rock and spend most of their time there with only their heads sticking out.

Availability:    This fish is available from time to time.

Author: David Brough. CFS.

• Gymnothorax fimbriatus : $69.99
• Gymnothorax fimbriatus : $59.99

Fimbriated Moray Eel Gymnothorax Fimbriatus Large Offered By: That Pet Place Price: $69.99

Fimbriated Moray Eel Gymnothorax Fimbriatus Medium Offered By: That Pet Place Price: $59.99

Lastest Comments on Yellowhead Moray Eel View all 10 comments on Yellowhead Moray Eel Add Your Comment

mzinn - 2003-08-04 I currently have 12" Fimbriated Moray living in a reef tank. I have been very lucky to not have any major incidents. Make sure you have proper hiding places in at least 2 in different parts of the tank. Fish in my tank include: Sohal/Yellow/Kole/Naso Tangs, Cherry Grouper, Green Bird Wrasse, Speckled Hawkfish. Also, the eel loves the cleaner shrimp station. Lets him go all over and inside his mouth. I have only had him for a short time, but so far so good. Reply

Ley - 2011-12-15 Hi ihave leopard eel about a meter long had it for about 2years always feeding fine 2months ago got in found it on the floor still alive put it back in the tank and started giving out this slimy stuff then went back to normal behaves well doesn't look any thinner but hasn't eaten in two months now tried all kinds of food live dead frozen fish shrimp don't now what to ddo can anyone help plz Reply

Ryan M - 2007-03-23 I purchased a fimbriated moray a month ago. Tankmates: four 6 inch columbian sharks, a 5 inch sailfin tang, two yellow mimic tangs, and a volitans lionfish. Within 24 hours, one of the sharks was gone, and that solved the problem of what i was going to feed it ($3.98 each)... The lionfish and the moray seem to have a polite respect for eachother. And the mimics and the sailfin try to harrass the moray, competing for hiding places. I ran out of decent sized sharks and started feeding the eel medium rosys, 3 or 4 at a time, what a time I had trying to keep the lionfish from eating itself to death while the eel fed. The sailfin succumbed to the moray a short while after, and the larger columbians were rescued and put in a brackish water tank. The mimics continue to press their luck, so far this moray has cost me $70 in fish, and is gonna cost me another $120, but at least it will be well fed!! Dez - 2010-10-20 I have a yellow head and a stars and stripe puffer, Mr moray ripped him in half very evil fish! Reply

mrussell - 2010-04-10 Our darn yellow-edged moray eel just ate the volitan lionfish that has been in the same tank with him for well over a year now! The eel is always well fed, so I don't know what his problem was today. It was a pretty large lion too! He left no evidence behind. We came home and the lion is nowhere to be found..... and Mr. Eel seems to not be hungry for his jumbo shrimp today. Reply

Kurt van Wyk - 2008-05-19 I was walking amongst some rock-pools two days ago and spotted a 2 and a half foot long leopard eel (not a yellow head) and started snorkeling with it. It stayed stock still with its mouth agape and then darted off. I love eels; they're my passion! Reply

Debbie Nestor - 2007-02-26 We have an 18 inch Yellow Headed Eel in a 300 gallon fish only tank. The Yellowhead also lives with a smaller Snowflake, a V. Lionfish, two different type of puffers, a Harlequin Wrass and a R. Trigger. Last night we added a 6 inch Lunare Wrasses to the tank. This fish was the bully of another of our tanks. Everyone ate fine last night. This morning the Lunare was missing!!! Gone, no where to be found. While feeding the others the Yellowheaded Eel didn't come out to feed. Later we herded the Yellowhead out to find a very large belly! We are convinced this monster ate the Lunare Wrasses. Debbie N. Reply

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