Blue ribbon eel (Rhinomuraena quaesita) care guide

Group
Marine fish
Other names
Black ribbon eel, Ribbon eel, Leaf-nosed moray eel, Bernis eel
Family
Muraenidae (moray eels); sometimes placed in Rhinomuraenidae
Origin
Indian and Pacific Oceans, East Africa to Japan, Australia and French Polynesia; sand and reef at 1–57 m
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
130 cm
Temperature
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
Salinity SG 1.023–1.026
Care level
expert
Temperament
semi_aggressive
Reef safe
no
Lifespan
Up to 20 (wild) years

Care

A very thin moray with flared nostrils. Black ribbon eels are juveniles, blue ones are males and yellow ones are females; the colour of captive fish does not reliably show sex or maturity. Most die within a year in captivity, and many stop eating after capture. Public aquaria have done better. It is not recommended for home aquaria, and it is an escape artist that can slip through tiny gaps. It can live up to 20 years in the wild. The IUCN has listed it as Least Concern. Water figures here are general marine aquarium guidance, not species-specific: 24–27 °C, pH 8.1–8.4, salinity SG 1.023–1.026. Adults grow far too large for home aquaria and are for public-aquarium-sized systems; no home tank size is given. Selling: our policies require the adult size and long-term tank needs to be stated clearly in the listing. Large fish must travel by a specialist live-animal courier (see the Livestock shipping guide). Sources: Wikipedia, List of marine aquarium fish species (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listofmarineaquariumfishspecies); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ribboneel). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Takes small live fish and shrimps in the wild. Many refuse food after capture; target-feeding with live or freshly thawed foods is often needed.

Breeding

Starts life as a male and can change into a female; females lay eggs and die within about a month. Spawning has been reported in public aquaria in Europe and North America. The larvae are large greenish leptocephali.

Compatibility and tank mates

Not reef safe with shrimps and small fish. Keep away from aggressive or competitive feeders.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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