Commonly known as the leaf-nosed moray, the bernis eel, or the ribbon eel, the Rhinomuraena quaesita belongs to the moray species of eels. Nevertheless, this interesting little fellow has its own unique characteristics that set it apart from other marine beings. Here are five interesting facts that you should be aware of, especially if you have been planning on purchasing one.
5 Things You Should Know
1. They Are Hard to Care for in Aquariums
Ribbon eels handle captivity notoriously poorly. Although they are a popular catch for the aquarium trade, some refuse to eat when confined to a tank. Due to this, many members of the species have an average lifespan of one month in fish tanks. Still, it is possible to care for them in an enclosure, but you will need to have prior experience handling morays.
Therefore, it is recommended to find out more about the ribbon eel before attempting to own one. The misfit of the morays, as it is lovingly called, thrives in larger tanks, particularly commercial aquaria. If fed right with krill, squid, shrimp, and live fish, it will manage to grow and flourish in a personal tank. Still, you have to be very careful.
Never expect your ribbon eel to mate with another marine being of its kind and breed in the aquarium. This has been rarely achieved in spacious tanks, such as the one at the Vienna Zoo. The best you can do if you are a private hobbyist is to ensure that the little guy has enough space to roam around and an adequate water flow to keep it healthy.
2. They Are Secretive and Reclusive Beings
In the wild, ribbon eels are native to the reefs and lagoons of the Indo-Pacific Ocean, starting from the coast of East Africa and spreading towards Australia, Japan, and French Polynesia. Due to this, they are a secretive species of moray that prefers to stay hidden in the rubble or sand at the bottom of the water. Still, they usually leave their head protruding out of the gravel.
For this reason, it is important to replicate these conditions in an aquarium setting as well if you want your ribbon eel to thrive. Such creatures that prefer to stay hidden and prey on small fish usually don’t handle being in the spotlight well. Although they might be stunning to look at, you need to understand this and provide them with sand in the tank so that they can bury themselves.
3. They Have an Inimitable Appearance
Perhaps the main reason why ribbon eels are still an important part of the aquarium trade is their inimitable appearance. They resemble a vividly colored and distinctively fierce mythical Chinese dragon due to their high dorsal fins and thin body. Adult males are bright blue with a yellow dorsal fin, while females are entirely yellow and can have a blue spot on their posterior.
Fully matured ribbon eels achieve their colors by undergoing a unique change as far as the moray family is concerned. Juveniles are born pitch black with a characteristic yellow fin, and this dark color shifts towards vivid shades of blue or yellow once adulthood is reached. This is just one of the things that makes this species so special in the kingdom of the ocean.
4. All of Them Are Born Male
While we’re on the subject of the species’ offspring, perhaps the most interesting fact about the ribbon eel is that all babies are born male. As they mature, they not only change their colors, but some of them also make the switch from male to female. This classifies the leaf-nosed morays as protandrous hermaphrodites.
The thought-provoking nature of this detail cannot be denied, but did you know that this is actually a common occurrence among marine creatures? Some fish are born female and later transition into males, which is known as protogynous hermaphroditism. Others even move from one sex to the other several time during their life, as they are bi-directional hermaphrodites.
5. Their Organs Are Positioned Uniquely
The final aspect which outlines the unicity of the leaf-nosed moray has to do with the way in which its organs are positioned. Its kidneys and reproductive parts are placed posteriorly to the anus, which is a unique trait among members of the vertebrate class. This led marine biologists to grant it its own genus of Rhinomuraena.
The Bottom Line
Ribbon eels are beautiful creatures that resemble mythical Chinese dragons, but you shouldn’t let their impressive appearance fool you. They are actually quite timid and enjoy their privacy, which makes them hard to care for in captivity. Thus, you shouldn’t attempt it if you are beginner in the aquarium world. However, if you have experience with morays, give it a go.
Cool facts, thanks for sharing. I love their colors
I never knew anything about ribbon eels – this is so good to know about!
I’ve never heard of these eels. How odd looking. Thanks for posting!
Very interesting! I did not know they were all born male,
Well, I learned something! I didn’t know this eel existed, and I didn’t know any species was all male at birth.
Interesting. I have never heard of a Ribbon Eel before now!
Interesting facts and I learned something new today. Thanks for sharing!
how interesting,,i didnt even know they exixted,,my grandkids would love to see one
Lovely to look at, but I would not try to keep one in captivity. Interesting creatures.
I think it’s incredibly interesting that all of these eels are born male.