Eels (such as morays) are secretive, nocturnal predators with generally shy but powerful temperaments – they’re more likely to eat tank mates than to actively bully them. Most are considered not reef-safe with livestock, as they will happily take small fish, crustaceans and other meaty inverts, though they usually ignore corals themselves. A secure, escape-proof lid is essential, as eels are notorious escape artists and can squeeze through tiny gaps. Smaller species like snowflake morays require a minimum of around 300–400 litres, with larger species needing substantially more water volume. They thrive in aquariums with plenty of rockwork and caves to hide in, strong filtration to handle their heavy feeding, and robust tank mates too large to be viewed as food.
