Dragon moray

The dragon moray (Enchelycore pardalis) is a carnivorous predator that primarily hunts small fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans in the Indo-Pacific reefs. It relies on its highly developed sense of smell rather than vision to ambush prey in dark crevices during the night. Its uniquely curved, sharp jaws are perfectly evolved for grasping slippery reef inhabitants.

In the wild and in large aquariums, the dragon moray eel can grow up to three feet in length. Because of its eventual size and active hunting nature, it requires a massive tank of at least 150 gallons with deeply structured rockwork. This provides the necessary hiding spots for the eel to feel secure in a captive environment.

Dragon morays are moderately aggressive and will eat any small fish or crustustacean that can fit into their prominent, curved jaws. They are generally kept in species-specific tanks or carefully selected "predator" reef tanks alongside larger, semi-aggressive tank mates. They should never be housed with delicate community fish or valuable clean-up crews like small shrimp.

Scuba divers can find dragon moray eels in the coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific Ocean, particularly around Hawaii, Japan, and the Red Sea. They are a highly sought-after species for underwater photographers due to their vivid orange, black, and white coloration. Divers usually spot them poking their heads out of rocky crevices or small caves during night dives.