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(gymnothorax rueppelliae)
Saltwater
This eel is native to the Indo-Pacific Oceans and Red Sea, including The Great Barrier Reef and the Hawaiian Islands. It has a brown and black barred body, accented by a yellow area on top of its head (a golden "halo"). There are no pectoral fins on this eel. It is a hearty eater that produces a lot of waste product, plus it's a messy eater. Most important to know is that it can jump out of an aquarium without a tightly closed lid. It is not uncommon for an eel to chase a crab from the water onto land, or to jump on a reef to get it. Any hole, including a small one, any eel can get through. While they have a reputation for being aggressive and mean, most are actually shy and retiring, attacking only when provoked. Still, get a great holding lid for the aquarium. Also known as a Banded Moray Eel.
Size: sm. 5"-8"; med. 9"-12"; lg. 13"-17" (rare); xl. 18"+ (rare); maximum size is 32"
No. in Tank: one
Tank: min. 60 gallons
Temperament: Aggressive
Food: (Carnivore) Offer large chunks of krill, table shrimp, clam, mussel and squid. It eats at night (nocturnal). Can feed by hand using feeding tongs ONLY, keeping in mind that the eel has poor eyesight and might accidentally (or not?), bite. Feed one or two times a week.
Light: Medium
Adaptation: Need a well-established aquarium with an excellent water filtration system due to the large amount of waste it produces, plus the messy eating will quickly clog filter pads. Also need rocks, crevices and other hiding places large enough to completely fit inside of. The more options for hiding, the less it will think of jumping through a hole in the lid.
Compatibility: Tank-mates need to be large enough that they will not fit into the eel's mouth and become a meal. It will also eat crustaceans. All other tank-mates are generally ignored.
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