
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Rhinomuraena quaesita
A moray with a ribbon-like body in vivid blue and yellow and petal-shaped nostrils. Many captive fish refuse food and waste away, making it an expert-only species.
The Ribbon Eel (Rhinomuraena quaesita) is a muraenid found from East Africa to the Tuamotu Islands, north to southern Japan and south to New Caledonia and French Polynesia. It buries itself in sand or rubble of lagoons and seaward reefs at 1-67m with only the head exposed. The anterior nostrils flare like petals and the body is a slender ribbon. Juveniles are black with a yellow dorsal fin, mature males turn vivid blue with a yellow snout, and with further growth the fish is thought to change sex to female and become entirely yellow, the only moray with such dramatic colour and sex change. Males reach 65-94cm and females up to 130cm; wild fish live about 20 years. It feeds on small fish. Keep at 22-26C, pH 8.1-8.4 and SG 1.020-1.025 in 380L or more with a sand bed of 10cm or deeper and a buried PVC pipe open at one end for shelter. Feeding is the great obstacle: many stop eating after capture and waste away, and most captive fish do not survive a year. Many respond only to live shrimp or fish, so avoid tankmates that steal food. It also escapes. IUCN: Least Concern.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The Ribbon Eel lives Up to about 20 years in the wild (most captive fish do not survive a year).
The Ribbon Eel grows to Up to 130cm.
The ideal temperature for the Ribbon Eel is 22〜26℃.
Origin
Indo-Pacific (East Africa to the Tuamotu Islands, north to southern Japan, south to New Caledonia and French Polynesia)
Sources: LiveAquaria / FishBase
Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team
The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.
Sources: CITES Appendices (species not listed) / IUCN Red List
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
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Lifespan
Up to about 20 years in the wild (most captive fish do not survive a year)
Size
Up to 130cm
Temperature
22〜26℃
Live shrimp, live small fish, crab (frozen foods once feeding)
Many refuse food after capture and waste away; most do not survive a year in captivity. An expert or public-aquarium species.
380L or more, a sand bed of 10cm or deeper, a buried PVC pipe open at one end for shelter, and a gap-free lid.
22-26C, pH 8.1-8.4, SG 1.020-1.025. Introduce only to a mature, stable tank.
Often responds only to live shrimp or small fish; try converting to frozen foods once it is feeding.
Avoid food thieves and aggressive fish. Eats small fish and shrimp it can swallow; harmless to corals.
Advanced. This is an advanced-level species. It requires specialized equipment and advanced husbandry skills with precise environmental control.
The ideal temperature for Ribbon Eel is 22〜26℃. Avoid sudden temperature changes and maintain a stable environment.
The average lifespan of Ribbon Eel is Up to about 20 years in the wild (most captive fish do not survive a year). With proper care and nutrition, they can live a long and healthy life.
Ribbon Eel typically reaches Up to 130cm as an adult. Size may vary depending on care conditions and individual genetics.
Ribbon Eel feeds on: Live shrimp, live small fish, crab (frozen foods once feeding). Aim for a balanced diet with appropriate feeding frequency.
The price of Ribbon Eel varies significantly depending on morph, size, and lineage. Check our market price page for the latest pricing information.
Last updated: September 15, 2026