Care
The Indian Mud Moray Eel has a widespread distribution across coastal regions of the Indo-west-Pacific, from India and the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal, eastwards to the Philippines, and southwards to Indonesia. Here, these nocturnal predators are found in muddy brackish estuaries and marine waters, only migrating into freshwater to spawn. Unfortunately, because this species is sometimes found in freshwater during the breeding season, it has been marketed erroneously in the trade for many years as the "Freshwater Moray Eel", when actually it requires brackish or full marine conditions long-term, as it's visits to freshwaters are only very temporary. This large bottom-dweller requires a spacious aquarium with a soft sand substrate in which it can forage about for food and wallow. There should be a multitude of hiding places amongst rocky caves, pvc tubes, and salt-tolerant plants. Filtration should be efficient with areas of moderate water movement, and some quieter resting areas out of the current. Frequent partial water changes are essential to keep nitrate to a minimum. Be sure to use a quality marine salt for water changes, and monitor salinity carefully with a hydrometer. Indian Mud Moray Eels are highly predatory, feeding on fish (even fairly large ones) in the wild. However, they may be kept in groups of their own kind in spacious aquaria, if all specimens are of roughly the same size, are added simultaneously, and are provided with at least one shelter each. We do not recommend housing with other fish species, as the eels will strike at them and most will soon be eaten. Although their eyesight is rather poor, Indian Mud Moray eels have a keen sense of smell and can detect movement vibrations very well, quickly lunging at any potential prey. This includes the hands, so much care should be taken when carrying out maintenance on the aquarium - they are capable of giving a nasty bite! As with other moray eels, these fish have needle-like teeth and possess a second set of teeth in the throat, known as the pharyngeal jaws which assist in capturing and swallowing prey. Although this species is not highly venomous, it does have a mildly toxic mucus coating to the mouth which can cause skin irritation if bitten. Ensure that the tank has tight fitting coverslides as these fish are accomplished escape artists. Kept under ideal conditions, the Indian Mud Moray Eel has been known to live in excess of 30 years; they will not survive for long in pure freshwater.
Feeding
Can be tricky to get feeding, as newly imported specimens often refuse anything but live foods. River shrimp may be required to initiate a feeding response whilst weaning the eels onto frozen meaty foods such as krill, prawns, mussel meat, crayfish tails, lancefish, whitebait etc. Target feeding with long tweezers may be necessary to ensure all specimens are receiving a fair share, and at least one feed should be just before lights out. Dried foods are rarely accepted.
Breeding
This anadromous species has not been bred in the home aquarium.
