Snowflake Eel (Echidna Nebulosa)

Size: only S, M;

Species Name : Echidna Nebulosa

Care Level : Easy

Temperament : Semi-aggressive

Color : Black, Tan, White

Diet : Carnivore

Reef Compatible : With Caution

Water Conditions : sg 1.020-1.025, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4

Max. Size : 24'

Origin : Indonesia, Melanesia, Sri Lanka

Family : Muraenidae

Minimum Tank Size : 50 gallons

The Snowflake Eel (Echidna Nebulosa), also known as the Snowflake Moray Eel, Clouded Moray, or Starry Moray, is one of the most beautiful morays, and inhabits caves and crevices throughout the Indo-Pacific reefs.  

Snowflake eels have an ornamental pattern that resembles many different snowflakes across the body. Its body is white or cream-colored with black dendritic or teethlike black blotches that contain one or two yellow spots. The eyes of the snowflake moray eel are yellow and there are yellow markings on the head. In the wild, it can grow to 39 inches; most captive specimens will not exceed 24 inches.

This is a very hardy eel, but an escape artist. A 50 gallon or larger aquarium with plenty of live rock and a tightly fit canopy is ideal. Most of the eels that are lost in an aquarium are due to poorly sealed tanks. The snowflake moray eel has the ability to find and crawl out of the smallest hole in the aquarium top, so make sure all of these holes are well-covered. They can slide out and may make their way through PVC plumbing into filter bags or the aquarium sump. They may dig up the substrate or move loose objects in the aquarium, so fastening the rocks and corals to the tank is a good idea.

The wild Snowflake Eel is a nocturnal predator, ambushing fish and crustaceans. The Snowflake Eel is safe to house with any fish it cannot easily swallow. It can be housed with some invertebrates, like anemones and corals, but not crustaceans. Other relatively large aggressive fish, such as lionfish, surgeons, triggerfish, and wrasses, are suitable as tankmates. 

This species is an unconfirmed protogynous hermaphrodite, meaning that they are able to change sex during their lifetime. When a male is needed, a female changes sex and takes on the role.

The wild Snowflake Eel is a carnivorous, nocturnal predator, ambushing fish and crustaceans. In the tank, it will take frozen or freeze-dried krill, fish, shrimp, clams, squid, octopus, scallops, feeder fish, and most meaty foods enriched with vitamins. It can be taught to hand feed, although this should be done with caution, as it can inflict a painful bite. Long tweezers or tongs can be used to feed them. A Snowflake Eel usually ignores other tank inhabitants if it is well fed, at least several times a week. It is not uncommon for eels to go into a "hibernation" period, often hiding and not eating for several weeks or longer.

Size: Small 4-7"; Medium 7-12"