Dragon moray
Enchelycore pardalis
Also known as Leopard moray, Japanese dragon eel, Hawaiian dragon eel, Tiger moray
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–79°F
- 22–26°C
- pH
- 8.0–8.4
- Adult size
- 35.4 in
- 90 cm
- Minimum tank
- 180 gal
- 680 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Own kind
- One per tank
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Reef safe
- Reef safe with caution
- Family
- Muraenidae
- Origin
- Native to the Pacific and Indian Oceans, especially around Japan and Hawaii, living in rocky reef caves and crevices.
Overview
The dragon moray is one of the most striking eels in the hobby, a large, aggressive predator for a saltwater tank. Only an experienced keeper should take one on.
Did you know
The dragon moray's hooked, permanently open jaws are not just for show. They let it grip struggling fish so securely that prey almost never wriggles free once seized.
Caring for the dragon moray
House a single dragon moray in a fish-only tank of at least 180 gal (680 L). Build heavy rockwork with a large cave. Fit an escape-proof lid, since morays are champion escape artists.
Keep the water at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 8.0 to 8.4, with strong filtration. Feed chunks of fresh marine fish, squid and shrimp on a feeding stick two or three times a week. Keep your hands well clear of the mouth.
The dragon moray is aggressive, and only one belongs in a tank. It leaves corals alone but eats fish, shrimp and crabs, so keep only large tank mates it cannot swallow.
Good to know
The dragon moray belongs to the moray family, Muraenidae, and is patterned in orange, red, white and black. Its raised front nostrils extend into horn-like tubes that give it the dragon look, and its jaws are lined with long, recurved teeth. Like most morays it has poor eyesight and hunts largely by smell. Adults are pure muscle. It is also sold as the leopard moray, tiger moray, Japanese dragon eel or Hawaiian dragon eel.
In the wild
The dragon moray is native to the Pacific and Indian Oceans, especially around Japan and Hawaii. It lives in rocky reef caves and crevices, where it waits in ambush and lunges from its cave to seize prey.
Common questions
What size tank does a dragon moray need?
A dragon moray needs at least 180 gal (680 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a dragon moray need?
A dragon moray is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 8.0–8.4.
What does a dragon moray eat?
A dragon moray eats chunks of fresh marine fish, squid and shrimp, fed on a feeding stick two or three times a week. It will also eat fish, shrimp and crabs that share its tank.
How big does a dragon moray get?
An adult dragon moray reaches about 35.4 in (90 cm).
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