Golden moray eel (Gymnothorax miliaris) care guide

Group
Marine fish
Other names
Goldentail moray, Bastard eel, Conger moray, Banana eel (colour form)
Family
Muraenidae (moray eels)
Origin
Western Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda to Brazil; reef slopes from the surface to about 35 m
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
70 cm
Temperature
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
Salinity SG 1.020–1.025
Minimum tank
450 litres
Care level
intermediate
Temperament
semi_aggressive
Reef safe
with_caution

Care

A small dark moray speckled with gold, with a yellow-tipped tail; the all-yellow "banana eel" is a colour form. It is usually about 40 cm long, reaching 70 cm. A solitary night hunter, though it is sometimes active by day. Give it secure caves, strong filtration and a tight lid. 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. The IUCN lists 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 1.020–1.025. Minimum tank size of about 450 litres is our estimate from the adult size and habits, not a published figure. 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/Gymnothoraxmiliaris). Checked October 2026.

Diet

In the wild it eats mainly crustaceans and molluscs and only rarely small fish. The list suggests whitefish, cockles, cod roe, haddock and frozen foods; feed with tongs two or three times a week.

Breeding

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

Compatibility and tank mates

Reef safe with caution: the list says it may eat fish and shrimps and should be kept in fish-only tanks, as small invertebrates are seen as food. House it with fish too large to swallow.

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

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