Rhinomuraena quaesita – Ribbon Moray
Rhinomuraena quaesita was first described by Garman in 1888. Their common name is Ribbon Moray, a refference to their ribbon like appearance when swimming. The Ribbon Moray belongs to the family Muraenidae, the morays .
The genus name Rhinomuraena is derived from the Ancient Greek “μυκτήρ” (rhinos), meaning”nose” , and”muraena”, the Latin word for moray. This refers to the fish’ s distinctive, leafy nasal outgrowth. The species name quaesita comes from the Latin “quaero”, meaning”search” or”look up” . This is probably a reference to the difficulty of finding the fish in its natural habitat, as it usually hides in burrows, leaving only its head visible.
Synonyms: Rhinomuraena ambonensis
Description, Behavior and Life Expectancy
The Ribbon Moray has an elongated, eel-shaped body. The head is distinctive, with a long, leafy nasal outgrowth. Juveniles are completely black. Males are bright yellow with a blue flank and a yellow dorsal fin. Females are predominantly yellow, with sometimes some blue at the tip of the body. The fins are long and run the entire length of the body, from behind the head to the anus. The maximum length is about 120 centimeters, but they usually do not exceed around 100 centimeters.
Sex- and age differences: The Ribbon Moray is a protandrous hermaphrodite, meaning that all individuals are born male and change sex to female later in life. This usually occurs around 90 centimeters in length. The color change is a clear sign of this sex change: from black to blue and yellow. Juveniles are completely black, males are blue and yellow, and females are yellow with possibly still some blue at the tip of their bodies. Behavioral differences between the sexes are not known.
Behavior and Temperament: The Ribbon Moray is a solitary, nocturnal fish that is usually hidden in burrows or crevices during the day, with only its head visible. They are generally not aggressive towards other fish, provided they are large enough not to be seen as prey. They are bottom dwellers and move about by large, undulating movements of their bodies, hence the name “ribbon moray’ or”ribbon moray’. Although they are not territorial, they can live together in one burrow.
Life expectancy: Life expectancy in the wild is unknown. In captivity, survival is often short, with many specimens dying within a month. However, there are reports of specimens living two years or more in captivity, especially in public aquaria. Under the right conditions, they can reach an age of about 20 years in captivity.
Increasing the survival rate of the Ribbon Moray in captivity
Increasing the survival rate of the Ribbon Moray in captivity requires a careful approach based on the specific needs of the species. Below are a few different crucial factors:
- Nutrition: Offering live prey, such as small crabs, is essential, especially in the early stages. This increases the chances that the moray eel will start eating in the new environment. Over time you can try switching to frozen foods such as fish, smelt and mussels, but always with feeding tongs and never by hand. It is important to feed moray eels regularly, but not too much.
- Aquarium Environment: An aquarium with adequate hiding places, such as rocks and crevices, is vital to minimize stress. Rocks should be firmly placed as the moray eel tends to churn up the bottom. An enclosed aquarium is necessary to prevent the fish from escaping. Water parameters (temperature, salinity, pH) must be carefully monitored and maintained within the optimal values for the species.
- Co-inhabitants: The Ribbon Moray can live well with other fish and invertebrates, provided they are large enough not to be seen as prey. However, it is advisable to feed them with tongs from an early age to prevent them from attacking co-inhabitants.
- Stress Reduction: Stress is a major factor that negatively affects survival rates. A calm and stable environment, without sudden changes, is essential. It is important not to disturb the moray eel and allow it adequate rest.
- Experience: Successful keeping and long-term survival of Ribbon Moray morays in captivity are mainly found in public aquariums with experienced keepers. Their expertise in creating an optimal environment and providing appropriate nutrition is crucial.
It is important to emphasize that even with the best care, the Ribbon Moray’ s survival rate in captivity remains relatively low. Many specimens refuse to eat after capture, leading to mortality. Successful keeping and long-term survival of this species in captivity remains a challenge.
Habitat and Ecology
The Ribbon Moray (Rhinomuraena quaesita) is found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region, in various ecosystems such as lagoons, coral reefs and seagrass beds.
They live mainly among coral reefs and in lagoons, where they hide in burrows and crevices in the bottom. Their natural habitat is characterized by a bottom with lots of rocks, coral and other sheltering substrate. The bottom often consists of sand or rubble.
The Ribbon Moray is a hunter and feeds on small fish and crustaceans. No specific natural predators are known, but it is likely that larger predatory fish may pose a threat to juveniles. Their shy behavior and the fact that they hide during the day is probably a defense mechanism against predation.
Diet
Diet in the wild: In their natural habitat, Ribbon Morays feed on small fish and crustaceans. They hunt at night and use their sense of smell to find prey.
Diet in the aquarium: In an aquarium they can be fed frozen foods such as fish, smelt, and mussels. It is important to feed them with feeding tongs and never by hand, as they have poor vision and may mistake a finger for food. Some sources also recommend small live fish (such as guppies or mollies), ghost shrimp, and small crabs.
Reef safe: Although the Ribbon Moray eats small fish and shrimp, they are generally considered reefsafe, provided they are properly fed. However, they will eat smaller invertebrates if they are not given enough other food. So it is important to make sure they get enough food to prevent them from attacking coral or other invertebrates.
The Aquarium en Compatibility
For a single Ribbon Moray, an aquarium of at least 400 liters is recommended. Multiple specimens require a considerably larger aquarium , with the exact size depending on the number of animals and their final size.
Aquarium setup: The setup should provide plenty of hiding places, such as rocks, caves, and crevices. Live rocks are suitable, but make sure they are firmly placed, as the moray eel tends to churn up the bottom. A sandy bottom is most suitable. Coral is not strictly necessary, but can be added if the aquarium is large enough and the moray eel is well fed to prevent it from affecting the coral.
Water values: Optimal water values are a temperature between 22-28°C, a pH of 8.1-8.4, and a specific density of 1.020-1.026.
Introduction to the aquarium: The aquarium should be properly set up and run in before introducing the Ribbon Moray. It is important that the ecosystem is stable and that the water parameters are optimal. It is not necessary to wait for algae to grow.
Compatibility with other inhabitants: The Ribbon Moray can live well with larger, peaceful fish, provided they are large enough not to be seen as prey. Suitable tank mates may include larger, peaceful reef fish, such as certain species of Lionfish or Emperor Fish. However, it is important to remember that the Ribbon Moray may eat smaller fish and invertebrates if they are not given enough other food. Thus, it is advisable to feed them with tongs from an early age to prevent them from attacking co-inhabitants. Avoid keeping small fish or invertebrates that could serve as prey.
Breeding Rhinomuraena quaesita in captivity
Breeding of this species in captivity has not yet been successful as far as we know. The Vienna Zoo did succeed in spawning a pair. Keeping the larvae alive unfortunately did not succeed.
Video
Author
John de Lange
Copyright images
Alexander Buil – Duikfreak.nl
Bernard Dupont
Hristo Hristov
Francois Libert (Zsispeo) – CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
