Pink-Lipped Moray Eel

Facts about the Pink-Lipped Moray Eel. The Pink-Lipped Moray Eel is one of the smaller moray eels.

The Pink-Lipped Moray Eel has the scientific name Echidna rhodochilus. It sometimes has the scientific name Muraena rhodochilus. The Pink-Lipped Moray Eel is part of the Muraeninae family.
The Pink-Lipped Moray Eel is sometimes called the freshwater moral eel, white cheek moray, cheeked moray, white eyed moray, and pink lipped moray eel.

These Pink-Lipped Moray Eels have brown or black bodies with yellow or light brown fins. The Pink-Lipped Moray Eel have pink, white or red spots on their cheeks. They have a blunt head compared to other moray eels.

The Pink-Lipped Moray Eels are shaped like a slender snake with a large mouth. The Pink-Lipped Moray Eels reach 20” in length, though the pink lipped moray eel is over a foot long, they are one of the smallest moray eels in the world, which is why they are periodically found in the aquarium trade. There are no external differences between male and female.
The Pink-Lipped Moray Eels live eight to twelve years.
The Pink-Lipped Moray Eel will bite, and its bite is venomous; this is painful but not deadly to humans. Don’t hand feed them, especially if you’ve fed them earthworms or dead foods. Use tools for maintenance.

These Pink-Lipped Moray Eels are carnivores and prefer live food. Do not stock them with smaller fish or shrimp; they will eat ornamental shrimp and hermit crabs. The Pink-Lipped Moray Eels will eat snails, and some will eat earthworms. The Pink-Lipped Moray Eels must be trained to eat dead food like pieces of table shrimp, tilapia fillets, cockles, mussels, lance fish or large krill. They can be offered whole fish like silversides. Feed them at least once a day if immature; mature adults can be fed every other day. They can share a fish tank with monos, scats, tete sea catfish and archerfishes.
The Pink-Lipped Moray Eels hunt by smell, not sight. They prefer to hunt at night. They swim on the bottom of the tank. They prefer dim light.
They should be stocked one male to one female. The Pink-Lipped Moray Eels can be kept in groups if given enough space. They may bite mates but will also bite those who feed them. Wear gloves when offering them food or avoid putting your hands in the tank.
Keep the aquarium covered so that they don’t escape. They will try to jump out if they think they can.

These Pink-Lipped Moray Eels are native to the Indo-Pacific. It is common in the waters around India and the Philippines. They are brackish fish; they can often live in marine fish, but they only spawn in fresh water. The young prefer brackish waters; adults can be acclimated to full marine conditions as long as you don’t expect them to spawn.
The Pink-Lipped Moray Eels want caves and will defend their caves, but they will otherwise be peaceful. They may shelter under ledges if caves are not available.
These Pink-Lipped Moray Eels need a tank of at least 70 gallons. These fish are difficult to maintain. They need a water hardness of 1.005 to 1.025. Their ideal water pH is 7.8 to 8.2. The water needs to be between 73F and 82F.

This Pink-Lipped Moray Eel species was identified by Bleeker in 1863.