Black Ribbon Eel (Rhinomuraena quaesita)

Max Size: 4 feet 2 inches
Diet: Carnivore
Temperament: Semi-Aggressivel
Reef Compatible: With Caution. May eat fish and crustaceans.
Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons

The Ribbon Eel, also known as the Ribbon Moray Eel, possesses distinct features such as a long, slender body, fragile jaws, and tubular front nostrils adorned with an intricate fan-like expansion.

This eel's appearance undergoes a striking color transformation as it matures in size. The juvenile Ribbon Eel has a dark black hue with a yellow dorsal fin. As it grows to 25-32 inches, it changes into a male with a bright blue body, yellow snout, and lower jaw. When it reaches a length of 33 inches or more, it transforms into a female with a completely yellow or yellow-blue body.

It's best to keep Ribbon Eels in a 55-gallon or larger aquarium with a deep (4-5 inch) sandy substrate for burrowing and hiding. It can take shelter in caves, artificial corals, or PVC pipes buried in the sand with only one opening. A tightly fitted lid is necessary to prevent escape.

Ribbon Eels require live feeder fish, crab, or shrimp for feeding, and they do not compete for food.