Green Moray Eel

The Green Moray Eel is one of the largest and most iconic moray eel species, reaching a formidable length of eight feet and weighing up to 65 pounds. Its distinctive green coloration is actually an optical illusion created by a combination of its yellow mucus coating over blue-gray skin, producing the characteristic green appearance. This massive eel is a familiar sight to divers throughout the Western Atlantic and Caribbean, where it inhabits coral reefs, rocky shorelines, and mangrove channels.

In the wild, Green Moray Eels are apex predators of the reef, capable of consuming fish, crustaceans, octopus, and virtually any animal they can overpower. Their muscular bodies, powerful jaws, and pharyngeal jaws (a second set of jaws in the throat) make them formidable hunters. Despite their fearsome appearance and reputation, Green Morays are generally not aggressive toward divers unless provoked or cornered. However, they can inflict serious bite wounds with their sharp teeth, and bites often become infected due to bacteria in their mucus.

Keeping a Green Moray Eel in captivity is a massive undertaking reserved for only the most dedicated aquarists with enormous systems. A minimum tank size of 300 gallons is required, and larger is strongly preferred for an adult specimen. The aquascape must include very large caves and structures that can accommodate the eel's bulk. A commercial-grade filtration system is necessary to handle the heavy bioload. This species is absolutely not reef-safe and will consume any fish or invertebrate it can overpower. Only large, robust tankmates should be considered.