Zebra Moray Eel (Gymnomuraena zebra) Care Guide

A strikingly beautiful moray with bold chocolate-brown and white zebra stripes covering its entire body.

Overview

Gymnomuraena zebra is a species in the family Muraenidae. A strikingly beautiful moray with bold chocolate-brown and white zebra stripes covering its entire body. Despite its large size, it is one of the most peaceful morays, feeding exclusively on hard-shelled crustaceans like crabs and sea urchins with its blunt, pebble-like teeth. Rarely bothers fish tankmates.

Taxonomy

Family: Muraenidae
Genus: Gymnomuraena
Scientific name: Gymnomuraena zebra
Origin: Indo-Pacific, Red Sea, Eastern Pacific

Habitat

Gymnomuraena zebra is a striped moray of Indo-Pacific and eastern Pacific reefs and the Red Sea. With flat crushing teeth it feeds on crustaceans, molluscs and urchins; it largely ignores fish but will hunt ornamental shrimp and crabs.

Tank requirements

Minimum tank volume: 500 L
Temperature: 23-27 °C
pH: 8.1-8.4
Salinity: SG 1.024-1.026
KH: 8-12 dKH
Water flow: moderate
Adult size: 80-150 cm
Lifespan: 15-25 years
Difficulty: intermediate

Diet

Classified as carnivore. Recommended feeding frequency: every 3-4 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: peaceful
Position in tank: bottom
Compatible tank mates: Large Tangs, Large Angelfish, Large Wrasses, Other Morays
Avoid with: Crabs, Sea Urchins, Small Crustaceans

Reef compatibility

Generally classified as reef-safe with caution: may disturb other sessile invertebrates, sting neighbouring corals or prey on small ornamental shrimps, so placement and tankmates need consideration.

Breeding

Breeding strategy: egg-scatterer
Breeding difficulty: advanced