Dragon moray eel (Enchelycore pardalis) care guide

Group
Marine fish
Other names
Leopard moray eel, Tiger moray eel, Puhi-kauila
Family
Muraenidae (moray eels)
Origin
Indo-Pacific, Réunion to Hawaii, southern Japan and Korea to New Caledonia; reefs at 5–60 m
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
92 cm
Temperature
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
Salinity SG 1.023–1.026
Care level
expert
Temperament
aggressive
Reef safe
no

Care

A striking moray with horn-like nostrils and orange, white and dark patterning. It is mostly nocturnal, sheltering in crevices by day. It tears prey apart by spinning its body or by tying itself in a knot for leverage. The list notes it will eat anything that fits in its mouth and is usually expensive. Morays have poor eyesight and find food by smell, so feed with tongs rather than fingers; a bite can be deep and may become infected. Fit a tight lid with every gap closed, as eels are expert escape artists. 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/Enchelycorepardalis). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Mainly eats fish and small octopus or squid. Offer whole fish, squid and prawn with tongs.

Breeding

Breeding in home aquaria has not been reported in the sources used here.

Compatibility and tank mates

Not reef safe. A fish-eater: keep only with large, robust fish.

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

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