White Eyed Moray Eel

The White-Eyed Moray Eel is distinguishable by their bright white eyes. They have a purplish-grey head and a body that is pale yellow-brown or whitish covered in dark speckles.

White Eye Morays reproduce by spawning. They wrap their bodies around each other, the female spawns approximately 5,000 eggs which the male fertilizes. These larvae float in open water near the surface for around 8 months, then the developed Morays will swim back down to the reef.

While this species is capable of eating and biting other fish, this is usually restricted to when it is feeding. They are shy creatures who usually will only attack if something provokes them.

White Eye Morays’ natural habitat is in rocky & coral reefs and reef flats, wrecks, and lagoons, usually to a depth of 35 meters.

The maximum length an adult will reach is 23.6 inches (60 centimetres), but it is more common to grow to 17.7 inches (45 centimetres).

It is found in the Indo-Pacific region including, Sumatra, French Polynesia, Japan, and Christmas Island.

Tank Recommendations for the White Eye Moray Eel

Tank size should be at least 50 gallons (189 litres).

Moray Eels need plenty of well-secured rock and coral containing a variety of cracks and crevice for them to hide in. They like to bury themselves in the substrate, but some aquarists prefer a bare-bottomed tank as eels can produce a lot of waste.

There is a possibility of unsecured rock or coral getting rearranged or damaged when they move around.

Moray eels can be a challenge to take care of as they are adept at escaping aquariums. You should keep a cover on the tank as a precaution.

Suitable Tank Buddies

The White Eye Moray Eel is semi-aggressive and will eat inverts, or any small fish that will fit in its mouth. Larger fish that are too big for its’ mouth may also get chunks bitten out of them.

It is also advised not to house them with larger aggressive fish which may harass them.

Usually Compatible

Good tank buddies for White Eye Morays include Large Angels, Boxfish, Grunts/Sweetlips, Lions/Scorpions, Puffers and Tangs.

Sometime Compatible

Caution is advisable when housing White Eye Morays with other morays, small Angelfish, Anglerfish/Frogfish, Anthias, Batfish, Butterflyfish, Foxface/Rabbits, Groupers, Hogfish, Parrotfish, Squirrelfish, Sharks/Rays, Triggerfish and Wrasses.

Rarely Compatible

White Eye Morays should not co-habit with Basslets, Blennies, Chromis, Clownfish, Damsels, Dartfish, Filefish, Gobies, Jawfish, Hawkfish, Pseudochromis, and Seahorse/Pipefish.

Feeding Your White Eye Moray Eel

Although White Eye Morays are found on reefs in the wild, in a tank they will eat small crustaceans and small fish.

White Eyed Moray Eels are Carnivorous. You should feed them a variety of meaty marine food, either fresh or frozen. Crustaceans such as crabs, squid and scallops are also suitable.

You should feed morays a large meal every 3-4 days, to avoid them harming themselves from over-eating.

Their poor eyesight means placing food in the tank may result in a nasty bite, so feeding tongs are recommended.