Aquarium eels

The aquarium fish sold as eels fall into two groups: freshwater spiny eels like the fire eel, and the saltwater moray eels of a FOWLR tank. Both are secretive, mostly nocturnal and famous for escaping, so a tight lid and places to hide come first. Each profile lists adult size, tank size and diet.

13 species

• 

  Dragon moray

  Enchelycore pardalis

  35.4 in (90 cm)180 gal (680 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Fire eel

  Mastacembelus erythrotaenia

  39.4 in (100 cm)132 gal (500 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Golden Dwarf Moray

  Gymnothorax melatremus

  11.8 in (30 cm)65 gal (246 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Half-banded spiny eel

  Macrognathus circumcinctus

  7.9 in (20 cm)57 gal (215 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Honeycomb moray

  Gymnothorax favagineus

  70.9 in (180 cm)291 gal (1,100 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
• Lesser spiny eel

  Macrognathus aculeatus

  15 in (38 cm)85 gal (320 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
• Marbled spiny eel

  Mastacembelus favus

  19.7 in (50 cm)119 gal (450 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Peacock Spiny Eel

  Macrognathus siamensis

  11.8 in (30 cm)70 gal (265 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Ribbon eel

  Rhinomuraena quaesita

  39.4 in (100 cm)66 gal (250 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Snowflake Eel

  Echidna nebulosa

  39.4 in (100 cm)50 gal (189 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

• 

  Tire-track eel

  Mastacembelus armatus

  27.6 in (70 cm)119 gal (450 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Zebra Moray

  Gymnomuraena zebra

  59.1 in (150 cm)180 gal (680 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
• Zebra spiny eel

  Macrognathus zebrinus

  11.8 in (30 cm)42 gal (160 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)