All fish / Muraenidae

Jewel Moray Eel

Muraena lentiginosa

Also known as jewel moray, jeweled moray, jewel eel, spotted jewel moray, jewelled moray eel, ジュエルモレイ, 珍珠鳝, 宝石海鳝

The jewel moray is a slender, dark brown eel covered in small yellow-edged white spots that grow in rows as the fish ages. It stays smaller than many morays, so keepers like it as a showpiece predator for a fish-only tank with lots of rockwork.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

60 cm

Temperature

22 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

400 litres

Keep as

Keep singly

Diet

Carnivore: whole fish, squid, shrimp and other meaty seafood

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 20 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Eastern Pacific: Gulf of California to Peru, including the Galapagos

Breeding

It scatters eggs in open water and the larvae drift in the plankton for a long time. It has not been bred in home aquariums.

Good to know

It eats small fish and crustaceans, so only keep it with large, sturdy tankmates, and fit a tight lid because morays escape easily. Use tongs when feeding because the bite is painful.