Zebra Moray

With thin white to yellowish rings encircling its dark body from head to tail, the zebra moray is the most easily recognized moray. Unlike most morays, it does not have sharp teeth but flat, grinding teeth suited to crushing crab and snail shells; for this reason it is relatively harmless to fish. In the aquarium it usually reaches 60–100 cm, and it can be longer in the wild. Specimens are wild-collected; the opening and closing of its mouth is breathing, not aggression.

• At least 600 liters; a tank length at least twice the moray's length.
• Escape prevention: Even the smallest gap in the lid must be closed; morays escape even through cable holes.
• Pipes, caves and secured rocks where it can hide its body.
• Salinity specific gravity 1.020–1.025, pH 8.1–8.4, temperature 24–27°C. Reef-safe with caution: it leaves corals alone, but eats shrimp, crabs, snails and sea urchins.

Carnivorous. Shelled foods such as shell-on shrimp, crabs, mussels and oysters, along with krill and squid. Offer them with tongs or a feeding stick. Adults are fed 2–3 times a week.

Calm and shy; it spends most of the day waiting in its lair. It usually causes no problems with fish close to its own size.

Good companions: Medium-sized and large fish: tangs, large angelfish, foxface, lionfish, triggerfish, large wrasses.

Avoid: Shrimp, crabs and snails, sea urchins, very small fish, an aquarium without a lid.