Dragon Moray Tankmates

seschafer3000 · Dec 18, 2017

Hello all,

I recently acquired a juvenile Dragon Moray, about 12" long, that is currently residing in a 40g with a couple of damsels. I have a 70G reef tank up and running now, but have a 240g that I will be setting up over the next month or so. The 240g will be the home for the Dragon Moray once he outgrows the 40g. I intend have this tank focus on larger fish, but will allow whatever corals will grow in there to do so. While it will be a while before I move the Dragon Moray into the 240g I'd like to start building up the stock list for the tank. Is anyone keeping one of these and if so can you provide some details on the fish that you keep with it. I know they like to eat fish so I'd like to be as careful as possible. Anyone keep Epaulettes with them? I have a 500g going in late next year that I would consider using instead if the Dragon Moray and a pair of Epaulettes would coexist together.

Thanks,

Steve

Yuki Rihwa · Dec 19, 2017

Welcome to R2R!
You should keep it in 70G rather in 40G then move it few months later or wait until you setup 240G then get the Eel (I knew it's too late now LOL).
*As a Dragon Moray eels, it is specialize eating fish and anything that fit in it mouth will become food (only safe tank mates are cleaner shrimp, snails), and sometimes its still able to kill and eat something that you would not think its able to swallow but like magic...your expensive tank mates just disappeared

it's just matter of time before its decide to pick tank mates for a snack.
*All it tank mates are mostly safe in day time but it's another story when tank light out...it's game time for a Dragon Moray Eel.
*Dragon Moray required low light so if you meet the eels requirement then you WON'T BE able to grow Corals with that low light setup.
*All the rock works must be secured or glue permanent to avoid disaster like rock falling, structure fall apart due to the eels movement, as its grow bigger it will try to move thing around for a comfy spot, making bigger caves...etc. All that will become tank disaster if you just stack your rock work normally.
*As its grow bigger it will become a bioload machine and will degrade your water quality super fast so it's another concern if you try to grow coral in an Eel tank. It's not impossible but you will need to do extra work, buy extra equipment, more frequent large water change like 30%~50% each time weekly, it's money sink for salt in a large tank.

eatbreakfast · Dec 19, 2017

As stated, it is a fish eater, so deep bodied tankmates, such as tangs, butterflies and angels work well.

Fish tankmates fare better if they are established before the eel is added to the tank.

Dragon eels can be acclimated to brighter lighting, though I wouldn't recommend sps dominant lighting.

Any eel can produce a lot of waste, but maintaining water quality can be handled in various ways, through over skimming, refugia, or carbon dosing.

Maritimer · Dec 19, 2017

We have one in our "Dragons" exhibit at the local public Aquarium. Tankmates include adult heniochus, a big, beautiful dussumieri tang and an adult orbicularis batfish - as eatbreakfast said ... tall-bodied fish.

~Bruce

Yuki Rihwa · Dec 19, 2017

Well, see the Tesselata in my avatar.
I knew It's different species and bigger than Dragon Moray BUT tall bodied fish like tang and angel still become it food hehehehe
That thing swallowed 10 inches majestic angle for a snack, full size adult yellow tank for dinner...and many more larger fishes last few years!

***Most folks forgot about its roll and self tie knot on a large prey and BOOM it's prey disappeared

Maritimer · Dec 19, 2017

Thomashtom · Dec 19, 2017

yes a tesselator showed me that roll years ago. Yikes

eatbreakfast · Dec 20, 2017

Dragon moray's teeth are different than tesselated. They are longer and more delicate, so less suited for tearing chunks of fish.

While possible it may kill tankmates, it is much more unlikely with deep bodied fish with a dragon moray.

seschafer3000 · Dec 30, 2017

Thanks all. Thoughts on keeping it with Epaulette Sharks?

eatbreakfast · Dec 30, 2017

seschafer3000 said:
Thanks all. Thoughts on keeping it with Epaulette Sharks?

I haven't see them kept together, but can't say. Though the sharks need excellent water quality and predatory fish can tax the biofiltration.

seschafer3000 · Jan 9, 2018

Any issue with keeping 2 Dragon Morays together if they are the same size. It's pretty difficult finding them this small, but if I do find another any issues?

Thanks,

Steve

lion king · Jan 9, 2018

I've seen them kept successfully with the usually suspects; angels, tangs, triggers. While aggressive, more timid than they look; more in league with a jeweled or yellow head than a tessa.