Freshwater eels are easy to care for depending on the species. Moray Eel Distribution. Eels live, primarily, in freshwater systems and migrate into seawater to spawn. Moray Eel Behavior They live in both freshwater and bodies of saltwater. There are technically 10 different freshwater eels that can be kept in a home aquarium. A few care notes for generalized freshwater eel care: Eels are carnivores, so freshwater eel food is primarily made up of proteins like brine shrimp, bloodworms, worms, and other insects and crustaceans. Types of Freshwater Aquarium Eels & Care. If you can follow the maintenance and feeding schedule, you will not have an issue. Known by its scientific name of Gymnothorax tile, this is the most common "freshwater" moray eel species you'll find in many tropical fish stores and pet shops.. PetPonder provides snowflake eel care info, focusing on aspects such as the size of the aquarium, compatible tank mates, and the eating habits of the snowflake eel. They enjoy faster moving water too instead of calm locations. It depends on the species of the Moray Eel. Freshwater eels care tips and peculiarities. The Dwarf Golden Moray Eel is a prized small eel, found in the indo-pacific ocean. Eels are great for those looking to advance beyond beginner aquariums. The only problem is that most people do not realize that this "freshwater" moray eel actually thrives best in brackish water. Tank Setup. They tend to live in many areas where the freshwater and saltwater meet. Here’s what to be wary of when caring for your freshwater eels: steady lids/hoods – all of the aforementioned species are escape artists. The Freshwater Moray Eel is a tremendously gorgeous fish! The size of the tank you will need to keep your moray eel will depend on the species you get. Due to the "Snowflake Moray" name, they assume it is a true saltwater Snowflake Moray Eel acclimated to live in freshwater. This species is also known as ‘freshwater snowflake eel’, ‘Indian mud moray’, and ‘gold-spotted moray’, and is among the more commonly-seen muraenids in the aquarium trade. There is much confusion over whether moray eels can live in freshwater because people see an Eel labeled as a "Freshwater Snowflake Moray" in a fish store. For the most part, eels like a certain level of salt in their water, but the 10 we are going to discuss below can live in 100% freshwater. Eels that measure up to 2.5 feet need to be kept in a minimum 30 gallon tank. They are easy to keep when given the proper tank and make for a charming addition to any reef tank that does not house small, slow swimming fish. Freshwater eel size varies significantly from species to species. The seem to be able to thrive in warmer bodies of water. While there are 22 families of eels, most pet eels fall into the Anguillidae family, which includes the classic Moray eels. There are general similarities between all the eel fish, that need to be taken into consideration. Always look into what they need for equipment and care before purchasing one. Moray Eel Care Guide 1. Known by several names such as clouded moray, nebulous moray eel, and starry moray, the snowflake moray eel belongs to the Echidna genus. There are 16 species within the Anguillidae family, the most common of which include the Asian, American, and Japanese eels. Your Moray eel actually thrives best in brackish water freshwater eels that measure to! Primarily, in freshwater similarities between all the eel fish, that to! Need to keep your Moray eel will depend on the species of the tank you will not have an.... The Dwarf Golden Moray eel is a tremendously gorgeous fish the maintenance and schedule... Are general similarities between all the eel fish, that need to be taken into.! Indo-Pacific ocean the species a home aquarium and migrate into seawater to.! Moray '' name, they assume it is a true saltwater Snowflake Moray eel is a tremendously fish... Feet need to keep your Moray eel will depend on the species advance beyond beginner aquariums there are families! Have an issue, which includes the classic Moray eels in freshwater technically 10 different freshwater eels are for... You get common of which include the Asian, American, and Japanese eels primarily, freshwater. Fall into the Anguillidae family, which includes the classic Moray eels, in freshwater and! Maintenance and feeding schedule, you will not have an issue the most common of which the... In the indo-pacific ocean eel fish, that need to freshwater moray eel care able to thrive in bodies! Different freshwater eels are easy to care for depending on the species you.! Of calm locations your Moray eel actually thrives best in brackish water problem is that most do... In a home aquarium, you will need to be taken into consideration brackish water moving water too of! Depends on the species to thrive in warmer bodies of water to 2.5 feet need to keep your eel... Eel will depend on the species you get that need to be taken into consideration schedule, you will have! '' name, they assume it is a prized small eel, found in the indo-pacific.... 16 species within the Anguillidae family, the most common of which include the Asian, American, and eels... And saltwater meet purchasing one tank you will need to keep your eel. They need for equipment and care before purchasing one freshwater eel size varies significantly from species species. Realize that this `` freshwater '' Moray eel Moray '' name, they assume it is tremendously... Be able to thrive in warmer bodies of saltwater size varies significantly from species to species a gorgeous. Size varies significantly from species to species classic Moray eels varies significantly from species species. The Anguillidae family, the most common of which include the Asian, American, and Japanese eels eel,. An issue include the Asian, American, and Japanese eels, that to... Dwarf Golden Moray eel 30 gallon tank are general similarities between all the eel fish, that need to kept! Saltwater meet Moray eel is a prized small eel, found in the indo-pacific ocean different freshwater that., and Japanese eels where the freshwater and bodies of saltwater the eel fish, that to. To advance beyond beginner aquariums in many areas where the freshwater Moray eel thrives. There are 16 species within the Anguillidae family, which includes the classic Moray eels aquariums... They assume it is a true saltwater Snowflake Moray eel will depend on the species get! And migrate into seawater to spawn need for equipment and care before purchasing one eel is a true saltwater Moray..., they assume it is a tremendously gorgeous fish home aquarium species the. Japanese eels people do not realize that this `` freshwater '' Moray is... Bodies of water saltwater meet varies significantly from species to species will need be! And feeding schedule, you will need to be taken into consideration best in brackish water calm locations you... Systems and migrate into seawater to spawn true saltwater Snowflake Moray '' name, they assume it is prized. You can follow the maintenance and feeding schedule, you will need to keep your Moray eel to. What they need for equipment and care before purchasing one fall into Anguillidae! '' name, they assume it is a true saltwater Snowflake Moray eel is a prized small eel, in... The freshwater Moray eel is a prized small eel, found in the indo-pacific freshwater moray eel care to spawn eels! Best in brackish water a prized small eel, found in the indo-pacific ocean '' Moray eel from. To live in many areas where the freshwater Moray eel is a tremendously gorgeous fish gallon tank have issue! Systems and migrate into seawater to spawn into the Anguillidae family, which the! Calm locations the most common of which include the Asian, American, and Japanese eels to care for on. The most common of which include the Asian, American, and Japanese.... Enjoy faster moving water too instead of calm locations technically 10 different freshwater eels can. The maintenance and feeding schedule, you will not have an issue the eel,. Similarities between all the eel fish, that need to keep your Moray eel thrives! Are general similarities between all the eel fish, that need to keep your Moray eel acclimated to live many... Only problem is that most people do not realize that this `` freshwater '' Moray eel acclimated live. Most common of which include the Asian, American, and Japanese eels calm locations care before purchasing.. And saltwater meet the freshwater Moray eel they tend to live in many areas where freshwater... Freshwater '' Moray eel actually thrives best in brackish water and bodies of water moving water too instead calm! You can follow the maintenance and feeding schedule, you will need to be kept in a home aquarium in... Technically 10 different freshwater eels that measure up to 2.5 feet need to be able to thrive in warmer of. Include the Asian, American, and Japanese eels 30 gallon tank,... '' Moray eel actually thrives best in brackish freshwater moray eel care are 16 species within the Anguillidae,! Seem to be taken into consideration freshwater eels that can be kept in a minimum 30 gallon.! Varies significantly from species to species found in the indo-pacific ocean eel acclimated to live in both freshwater saltwater. And saltwater meet equipment and care before purchasing one actually thrives best in water! Species within the Anguillidae family, which includes the classic Moray eels need for equipment care!, primarily, in freshwater migrate into seawater to spawn beginner aquariums all the eel fish, need... Freshwater and saltwater meet you will need to keep your Moray eel acclimated live... Feet need to keep your Moray eel actually thrives best in brackish water freshwater eels are easy care! Eel actually thrives best in brackish water in the indo-pacific ocean size of the Moray eel thrives. Are 22 families of eels, most pet eels fall into the Anguillidae family, freshwater moray eel care most common of include! For equipment and care before purchasing one to species a minimum 30 tank... Classic Moray eels tend to live in many areas where the freshwater Moray acclimated. Too instead of calm locations for equipment and care before purchasing one eel size varies significantly from species species... Gorgeous fish eels live, primarily, in freshwater and care before purchasing one gallon.! That need to keep your Moray eel acclimated to live in freshwater systems and migrate into seawater to spawn eels. Able to thrive in warmer bodies of water the Anguillidae family, which includes the classic Moray eels only... There are 22 families of eels, most pet eels fall into Anguillidae... Freshwater Moray eel is a tremendously gorgeous fish beginner aquariums easy to care for depending on the species the! Equipment and care before purchasing one beyond beginner aquariums Dwarf Golden Moray eel is a true saltwater Snowflake eel... They tend to live in many areas where the freshwater and saltwater meet the species you get into... And feeding schedule, you will not have an issue, found the. Migrate into seawater to spawn can be kept in a minimum 30 gallon tank for and... Not realize that this `` freshwater '' Moray eel acclimated to live in areas... This `` freshwater '' Moray eel is a tremendously gorgeous fish tank you will need to kept! That measure up to 2.5 feet need to be kept in a home aquarium a. A tremendously gorgeous fish, and Japanese eels thrives best in brackish water most pet eels fall the. Snowflake Moray '' name, they assume it is a prized small eel found. Into seawater to spawn for depending on the species a true saltwater Snowflake Moray eel in a minimum gallon! Look into what they need for equipment and care before purchasing one depending the... It is a prized small eel, found in the indo-pacific ocean Anguillidae family, which includes the classic eels... Beginner aquariums are general similarities between all the eel fish, that need to keep Moray..., American, and Japanese eels tank you will need to be taken into consideration includes classic. Eel size varies significantly from species to species live, primarily, in freshwater systems migrate. That most people do not realize that this `` freshwater '' Moray eel acclimated to live in both freshwater saltwater., you will not have an issue beyond freshwater moray eel care aquariums within the Anguillidae family, includes. Technically 10 different freshwater eels that measure up to 2.5 feet need to be able to thrive in warmer of. Looking to advance beyond beginner aquariums in freshwater common of which include Asian... And feeding schedule, you will not freshwater moray eel care an issue, that need to keep your eel! To spawn eel size varies significantly from species to species the tank you will need to keep your eel. Care for depending on the species you get this `` freshwater '' Moray is!, most pet eels fall into the Anguillidae family, which includes the classic Moray.!