Freshwater morays Hi Bob, I have been reading the FAQ on freshwater moray eels and was wondering if you could help me out with a query of mine. A friend of mine recently acquired 3 freshwater morays directly from a wholesaler. He was informed that they were a freshwater species and that the specimens were actually bred in captivity in freshwater. <Really? Hmm, have just this last week finished spiffing up this section of WWM... no Morays (Muraenidae) have been spawned, reared in captivity... the larval history phase, the leptocephalus, is very problematical...> He does not have the Latin name but we believe them to be Echidna rhodochilus and they range in colour from a peppery speckle to whitish. <Yes... wish I had better pix of the white and black geographic "races"... very beautiful> I am surprised to hear that they were bred in freshwater but apparently this is the case. They are about 4" long and currently being housed in a 20 gal aquaria where they are doing well and feeding on river shrimp. <Neat> Due to the eventual size and conditions they require he has offered them to me as I have a 150 UK gal brackish tank housing Figure eight and green spotted puffer fish. I am interested in taking these fish but am wondering if my current tank inhabitants are suitable tank mates for these morays. The puffers range in size from 1-4 inches. <I suspect there might well be trouble with the Puffers both biting these tiny eels and consuming all their food. I would at least put a serious barrier/divider between the front and back of a section of your tank to keep them separated> I look forwards to hearing your reply! Many thanks, Kris Graff <Be chatting. Bob Fenner>

My Echidna rhodochilus Laid Eggs - 11/10/06 Hello, <<Hi there>> Thank you for responding to my email. <<No worries...is what we do, mate>> I have a few questions relating to my moray eel. <<Shoot>> She is approximately 19-inches long and has the thickness of a quarter.  She is approximately 3-years old.  I purchased her from my local pet store as a freshwater snowflake moray eel. <<No such thing...>> Right away I knew that this eel was not freshwater because moray eels only live in the oceans with the exception of some that use rivers to breed. <<Agreed>> I did some research and I believe her to be an Echidna rhodochilus. <<Excellent>> I have traditionally kept her in brackish water of about 1.010 salinity. <<Mmm...principally a marine animal, I would keep the eel in full-strength seawater>> Over the last week I have slowly been increasing the salinity. <<Ah...very good>> It is approximately 1.013. <<Keep going....>> The reason I did this was because over the last 2 weeks she began to swell up, eventually becoming about three times her size.  I though she had an infection but this morning I found out that she was just ovulating.  She laid about three thousand eggs.  So, my questions for you are; is it normal for this Moray to lay eggs in captivity? <<Don't know about "normal"...but "Bob says" it does occur from time to time>> Should I increase the salinity to that of full saltwater? <<I would...but it has nothing to do with this eel laying eggs.  You should also consider removing these eggs as they are certainly infertile without a mate for the eel and will decompose, affecting water quality>> If I do increase the salinity to full saltwater is it safe to put damsels and such fish in with her? <<The eel will eat small shrimp and fish, but if the fish are large enough it should be fine>> When she was young and in brackish water her diet consisted of live feeder fish that she stalked and captured. <<Yep>> She is very skinny because of giving birth.  I want to switch her food over to prawns and shrimp but not sure if this is a good time? <<If she will take them, sure>> Should I get her fat and healthy before I try to wean her on to new food? <<I would feed her whatever she will eat...but do try introducing the prawns>> Lastly, around her anal opening where she laid the eggs, it appears to be stretched and slightly cut.  Is this natural? <<Will be fine>> Is there anything I should do to help it heal? <<Maintain good (marine) water quality and keep her fed>> Thank you again for taking the time to respond to my email. <<Quite welcome>> Sincerely, Rob <<Regards, EricR>>

FW Moray Eel Breeding?  9/9/06 Hi: I have a few questions. I am having a hard time finding a picture of larvae from a Gymnothorax Tile. Let me explain the situation. The other day I came home from work and found some sort of weird larvae in my tank. I couldn't identify it or determine where it came from. I have read everywhere that eels don't like to breed or birth in captivity. A few months ago I purchased a "freshwater" moray eel. When the eel was caught off the coast of Florida there was two of them. I found this clear larvae in my tank that had a yellow spot on the inside of it as well as a tail! The tank it's in is a community tank. So there is a few Neons and a few Plecos and a few hatchet fish. That's all. Is it possible that this larvae was actually a baby eel? Unfortunately I don't have a picture of it because right in front of me it got sucked into one of my filters. :' (My eel has been acting strange and not coming out of its house and eating like a pig recently. Not even two weeks ago she ate 4 bumblebee gobies and 3 small Plecos. She likes Plecos for some reason I can't get her to eat krill, ghost shrimp or guppies. Not sure what to do about that either. Is it possible that a really great thing just happened in my tank? Or is it more likely that it was a baby Pleco? I don't think that was the case because my Plecos are still very small. Less than three inches long and less than an inch circumference. The tail or snout whatever it was brown and black. If that helps identify it. The sack was clear with what looked like yellow inside of it. Could there be more coming and if more does show up what should I do. I don't want to separate it or move it for fear of killing it. Any help is greatly appreciated. I'm sorry I didn't get a picture of it for you guys. What should I do??? < Freshwater eels (Gymnothorax tile ) actually come from Asia . If yours was really caught of the coast of Florida then it cannot be this fish. Check out American eels on Google and I am sure you will find some useful info.-Chuck>