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Barred Moray

Echidna polyzona

Family: Muraenidae · Eels

Also known as: Barred Moray Eel, Many-banded Moray, Banded Moray Eel

Max Size

28"

Min Tank

75 gal

Lifespan

10-15 years

Origin

Indo-Pacific, Red Sea

Diet

Carnivore

Swims

Bottom

About

The Barred Moray is a striking member of the Echidna genus, closely related to the popular Snowflake Moray. Its body features a distinctive pattern of alternating dark brown and white to cream bars that extend along its entire length, giving it an appearance reminiscent of a banded sea snake. Reaching a maximum size of around 28 inches, it is a medium-sized moray that is manageable for aquarists with appropriately sized systems.

Like its cousin the Snowflake Moray, the Barred Moray possesses blunt, pebble-like teeth that are adapted for crushing the shells of crustaceans rather than seizing fish. This makes it a specialist crustacean predator that is far less likely to consume fish tankmates than moray species with sharp, elongated teeth. In the wild, it inhabits shallow reef flats and rocky coastlines throughout the Indo-Pacific, where it hunts crabs, shrimp, and sea urchins by night among the crevices and rubble.

In the aquarium, the Barred Moray is considered one of the more manageable moray species due to its moderate size and crustacean-focused diet. While it is relatively peaceful toward fish tankmates, it will readily consume any ornamental shrimp, crabs, or other crustaceans in the tank. A secure, tight-fitting lid is absolutely essential, as all moray eels are accomplished escape artists. Provide ample rockwork with caves and crevices for the eel to establish hiding spots.

Feeding & Diet

Carnivore

Barred Morays are crustacean specialists with blunt crushing teeth. In captivity, offer frozen shrimp, krill, crab pieces, squid, and silversides. Use feeding tongs to present food directly to the eel to prevent accidental bites. Feed every two to three days for adults. Their preference for hard-shelled prey can be supplemented with occasional whole shrimp or small crabs to maintain jaw strength.

Compatibility

reef-cautionsemi-aggressivecrustacean-predatorescape-artistcommunity-compatible

The Barred Moray is relatively peaceful for a moray eel and generally coexists well with fish tankmates that are too large to swallow. It is compatible with medium to large community fish such as tangs, angelfish, and wrasses. However, it will consume any ornamental crustaceans including cleaner shrimp, hermit crabs, and small crabs. Can be housed with other similarly sized eels in larger aquariums if introduced simultaneously.

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Breeding

Not bred in captivity

Barred Morays have not been successfully bred in home aquariums. Like other moray eels, they are believed to be protogynous hermaphrodites. Spawning in the wild involves the release of pelagic eggs into the water column, and the transparent leptocephalus larvae undergo an extended oceanic planktonic phase before settling onto the reef.