Blue Ribbon Eel

Ribbon Eel Care Guide

Glossary:
  1. Care Guide & Requirements
  2. Reef Safe
  3. Prices
  4. Food & Diet
  5. Facts
  6. Tank Mates & Environment
  7. FAQs

The Ribbon Eel (Rhinomuraena quaesita), also known as the Black or Blue Ribbon Eel, is a large and colorful eel that can complement the fish in your tank. While this eel might be a great way to keep your tank lively and engaging, there are certain aspects to consider before getting a Ribbon Eel. As a word of warning, the Ribbon Eel, while visually appealing, is potentially difficult to care for and has strict demands, making it more suitable for advanced hobbyists.

This guide will help you decide whether to get a Ribbon Eel for your aquarium based on your care preferences.

Is the Ribbon Eel reef safe?

The Ribbon Eel is potentially reef-safe, but it may choose to go after corals and invertebrates in some cases. This makes it important to practice caution when adding this eel to a reef tank.

Ribbon Eel food and diet

The Ribbon Eel requires a specialized diet of certain fish that can make it difficult to gauge how well your eel will get along with tank mates. They’re notoriously picky eaters and could cause some degree of headache in this regard. Additionally, the diet and size of these eels can contribute to increased levels of waste that require more frequent cleaning to maintain the tank.

Ribbon Eel FAQs

Do Ribbon Eels have teeth?

Like other eels, the Ribbon Eel has small but effective teeth that make for a potentially nasty bite. However, although they may bite people and others when threatened, they’re more likely to hide than nip at potential predators.

Can Ribbon Eels change gender?

When they’re born, all Ribbon Eels are male. As they reach sexual maturity, some of them may transform into females. Their color changes reflect this transformation—black coloration turns to blue for males while the females display more yellow and potentially a little blue toward their posterior.

How long do Ribbon Eels grow?

The Ribbon Eel is among the larger species of eel, which is why it’s more expensive. When fully grown, the eel could reach a length of around three feet or one meter.

Ribbon Eel price

The Ribbon Eel isn’t the cheapest option you’ll find when looking to add a moray eel, but its price point varies greatly. You can find this fish at many online and offline retailers for anywhere from around $100 to $300 or more, depending on the length of the eel.

Ribbon Eel facts

Here are a few miscellaneous facts you might not have known about the Ribbon Eel:

  1. Ribbon Eels appear in healthy reefs, but they can also feed on damaged reefs because of the rubble and sandy substrate the latter form.
  2. One unique feature that makes the Ribbon Eel stand out is its protruding nose and nostrils which serve a critical function. These nostrils are particularly sensitive to vibrations and help with hunting. The structure of their nose gives them an ever-open mouth to breathe, which can give the impression that the eel is threatened even when it isn’t.
  3. Ribbon Eels have an interestingly long lifespan and can live as long as 20 years in the wild, although they don’t tend to live as long in captivity.

What other fish are the best tank mates for the Ribbon Eel?

As mentioned, the Ribbon Eel tends to be difficult to pair with other fish because of its pickiness.

Some good tank mates for the Ribbon Eel may include:

  • Angelfish
  • Lionfish
  • Tangs
  • Rabbitfish
  • Other Ribbon Eels
  • Certain types of moray eels
  • Reef invertebrates and coral

Conversely, you’ll definitely want to avoid keeping your Ribbon Eel with smaller fish that can become prey such as small damselfish, clownfish, and firefish. Also, small shrimp are unsuitable tank mates.

Where to buy Ribbon Eels

Want to purchase a Ribbon Eel? You’ll find this eel just about everywhere online. Some of the specific shops selling these eels include:

Generally, it’s best to get a Ribbon Eel only if you’re a more experienced aquarist. These fish require a lot of care and attention, making it more of a challenge to maintain them. However, with the right care, the Ribbon Eel can be among the most entertaining fish in your tank.