Green Moray Eel (Gymnothorax funebris) Care Guide
The iconic large moray of the Atlantic, reaching up to 250 cm. Its green coloration comes from a yellow mucus layer over blue-gray skin.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Gymnothorax funebris is a species in the family Muraenidae. The iconic large moray of the Atlantic, reaching up to 250 cm. Its green coloration comes from a yellow mucus layer over blue-gray skin. A powerful predator requiring a species-dedicated or very large FOWLR system. Capable of delivering a serious bite and should only be kept by experienced aquarists with appropriately massive tanks.
Taxonomy
- Family: Muraenidae
- Genus: Gymnothorax
- Scientific name: Gymnothorax funebris
- Origin: Western Atlantic, Caribbean, Eastern Atlantic
Habitat
Gymnothorax funebris is a large moray of western Atlantic and Caribbean reefs and rocky areas. A powerful nocturnal predator with sharp teeth, it eats fish and crustaceans and grows very large, requiring a substantial fish-only system with a secure lid.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 1500 L
- Temperature: 22-27 °C
- pH: 8-8.4
- Salinity: SG 1.024-1.026
- KH: 8-12 dKH
- Water flow: moderate
- Adult size: 150-250 cm
- Lifespan: 15-30 years
- Difficulty: advanced
Diet
Classified as carnivore. Recommended feeding frequency: every 3-5 days. In captivity, offer a varied diet appropriate to the species — quality prepared foods supplemented with frozen or live items of suitable size.
Compatibility
- Temperament: aggressive
- Position in tank: bottom
- Compatible tank mates: Other Large Morays, Very Large Groupers
- Avoid with: All Small Fish, All Invertebrates, Hands
Reef compatibility
Generally classified as not reef-safe: routinely feeds on corals, sessile invertebrates or ornamental shrimps and is best kept in a fish-only system.
Breeding
- Breeding strategy: egg-scatterer
- Breeding difficulty: advanced
Green Moray Eel Breeding Guide
Overview
Gymnothorax funebris is the largest moray in the tropical western Atlantic, reaching up to about 2.5 m, and ranges in the western Atlantic from New York, Bermuda and the northern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil. Like all morays, it is oviparous with external fertilization and a planktonic leptocephalus larval stage. There are no established protocols for breeding it in home aquariums.
Spawning Behavior
Morays are broadcast spawners: males and females release gametes simultaneously, and the fertilized eggs are dispersed by ocean currents. Because of their nocturnal habits and the inaccessible environments where reproduction occurs, direct observations of moray courtship and spawning are rare.
Larval Development
Fertilized eggs develop into transparent, ribbon-like larvae called leptocephali. These larvae remain in the pelagic zone for an extended period, often up to a year, feeding on microscopic plankton, before metamorphosing into juvenile eels once they reach benthic habitats. This long oceanic larval phase is incompatible with closed-system aquaria.
Why Home Breeding Is Not Feasible
Beyond the universal moray obstacles of broadcast spawning and a year-long pelagic leptocephalus stage, the Green Moray's adult size of up to 2.5 m makes maintaining a reproductive pair impractical outside very large public facilities. The species is collected occasionally for public aquaria, but there are no records of routine captive breeding.