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The whitemouth moray gets its name from the bright white interior of its mouth, which it displays openly during respiration and threat displays. Body is dark brown to black with scattered white spots. Mid-size and one of the more commonly available Indo-Pacific morays in US trade. Hardy and accepts prepared foods quickly compared to specialty species.
Native range: Indo-Pacific. The whitemouth moray is a member of the Moray (Muraenidae) family. Most specimens in the US trade are wild-caught from collection points in their native range and shipped through Indo-Pacific or Atlantic marine wholesalers. Wild-caught morays often arrive with internal parasites and shipping stress - a 4-week quarantine in a separate system with prazi and metronidazole prophylaxis is the standard reef-keeper protocol before display introduction.
Tank size: 125 gallons is the practical minimum for a single adult. Substrate should be marine sand 2-4 inches deep - fine grain to prevent abrasion. Hardscape should provide multiple cave structures, PVC pipe segments, and overhangs that allow the eel to choose its preferred resting position. Lighting can be standard reef LED; morays do not require special light spectrum. Filtration should be oversized - morays are messy eaters and produce significant nitrogenous waste. A skimmer rated for at least 1.5x the actual tank volume is the standard for moray-housing FOWLR systems.
The lid is non-negotiable. Morays are exceptionally strong jumpers and escape artists. A 1cm gap is enough for an adult specimen to find and exploit. Hood-style covers work; rimless tanks need custom acrylic or glass cut to seal completely.
Primary diet: Frozen silversides, krill, squid, chopped seafood. Morays are obligate carnivores. Feed 2-3 times per week for adults, daily for juveniles. Use feeding tongs rather than dropping food - morays learn to associate tong tips with food and develop reliable feeding responses within 1-2 weeks. Variety matters: rotate between silversides, krill, squid, chopped scallop, and occasional whole shrimp for nutritional completeness. Avoid feeder goldfish - they carry thiaminase that destroys vitamin B1 and leads to long-term neurological problems.
Safe: Large reef-safe predators 4"+: angels, triggers, larger tangs..
Avoid: Small fish, small inverts, other large morays..
Not bred in captivity.
Jumping; aggression at feeding time; tankmate predation on smaller fish.
The whitemouth moray gets its name from the bright white interior of its mouth, which it displays openly during respiration and threat displays. Body is dark brown to black with scattered white spots. Mid-size and one of the more commonly available Indo-Pacific morays in US trade. Hardy and accepts prepared foods quickly compared to specialty species.
Tank size: 125 gallons is the practical minimum for a single adult. Substrate should be marine sand 2-4 inches deep - fine grain to prevent abrasion. Hardscape should provide multiple cave structures, PVC pipe segments, and overhangs that allow the eel to choose its preferred resting position. Lighting can be standard reef LED; morays do not require special light spectrum.
The Whitemouth Moray is rated intermediate to advanced difficulty on this care sheet. It needs a tank of at least 125 gallons, a temperature of 74-82°F (23-28°C) and salinity of 1.024-1.026 SG. Adults reach about 30-36 inches (75-90 cm) and live 15-20 years. The whitemouth moray gets its name from the bright white interior of its mouth, which it displays openly during respiration and threat displays.
Primary diet: Frozen silversides, krill, squid, chopped seafood. Morays are obligate carnivores. Feed 2-3 times per week for adults, daily for juveniles. Use feeding tongs rather than dropping food - morays learn to associate tong tips with food and develop reliable feeding responses within 1-2 weeks. Variety matters: rotate between silversides, krill, squid, chopped scallop, and occasional whole shrimp for nutritional completeness.
The Whitemouth Moray reaches about 30-36 inches (75-90 cm) as an adult and lives 15-20 years with good care. Tank size: 125 gallons is the practical minimum for a single adult. Substrate should be marine sand 2-4 inches deep - fine grain to prevent abrasion. A 1cm gap is enough for an adult specimen to find and exploit.
Jumping; aggression at feeding time; tankmate predation on smaller fish. Keeper note: Same FOWLR template as other Gymnothorax. Whitemouth morays tend to be more visible during daylight than other moray species, which makes them satisfying display fish. Morays are exceptionally strong jumpers and escape artists.
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