Zebra Moray Eel

The Zebra Moray Eel is widely regarded as the most docile and attractive moray eel available for the home aquarium. Its chocolate-brown to dark reddish-brown body is encircled by crisp, evenly spaced white to cream-colored bands, creating a striking zebra-like pattern that makes it instantly recognizable. Reaching up to 36 inches in length in captivity, the Zebra Moray is a substantial species, but its remarkably peaceful temperament sets it apart from most other moray eels and makes it one of the few eels suitable for community aquariums with appropriately sized tankmates.

The Zebra Moray Eel is a highly specialized crustacean predator, possessing flat, plate-like teeth adapted exclusively for crushing the hard exoskeletons of crabs, shrimp, and sea urchins. Unlike most other moray eels, it lacks the sharp, recurved teeth used for seizing fish, which means it poses virtually no threat to fish tankmates of any size. In the wild, Zebra Morays are found in shallow coral reefs and rocky areas throughout the Indo-Pacific, where they hunt nocturnally, using their powerful jaws to crush prey items that other predators cannot access.

In the aquarium, the Zebra Moray Eel is considered reef-safe with caution. It is completely harmless to corals and other sessile invertebrates, but it will consume any crustaceans it can catch, including hermit crabs, cleaner shrimp, and emerald crabs. A tightly sealed lid is essential as all moray eels can escape through surprisingly small gaps. The Zebra Moray tends to be shy initially but gradually becomes bolder over time, often learning to accept food directly from feeding tongs. Its peaceful nature, striking appearance, and manageable temperament make it a highly prized species among eel enthusiasts.