Gymnothorax melatremus

Gymnothorax Melatremus
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Anguilliformes
Family:	Muraenidae
Genus:	Gymnothorax
Species:	G. melatremus
Binomial name
	Gymnothorax melatremus; L. P. Schultz, 1953

Gymnothorax melatremus, the blackspot moray, dirty yellow moray or dwarf moray, is a moray eel from the Indo-Pacific East Africa to the Marquesas and Mangaréva, north to the Hawaiian Islands, south to the Australs islands. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade but still being rare to find.

Body characteristics

Origin of dorsal fin about midway between gill opening and corner of mouth. Small and stout teeth without canines, single row of teeth at front of upper jaw with 1-2 median teeth, teeth in two rows on each side of upper jaw, longer and more slender teeth in the inner row, larger teeth at front of lower jaw. It grows to 26 cm in length. They vary in colors from golden, yellow, white colors throughout their bodies and black spots in their gill openings and deep blue in their eyes.

Diet

Like other moray eels, Gymnothorax melatremus is carnivorous. In the wild, it feeds on any crustaceans and small fish it can catch for example: ghost shrimp, dead squid, firefish, jawfish & etc.

Aquarium Diet

this moray eel is part of the aquarium hobby and you can feed it: Dead fishes, chopped cephalopods and small shrimp.

Behaviour

They are mostly peaceful but they are still morays so they will attack vulnerable species like small bottom feeders and other types of small fishes. When scared or in danger it will attack and their bite can cause infections. They are mostly nocturnal so at day time they are very hard to find.

In small places they will get nervous and will be more alert to movements and prey.

Aquarium Care

Minimum tank size	55 gallons
Minimum group size	1
Temperature	72-78 ºF 22-25 ºC
Salinity	1.020-1.025
pH	8.1-8.4
Difficulty level	Intermediate-expert

References

^ Smith, D.G.; McCosker, J.; Tighe, K. (2019). "Gymnothorax melatremus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T195753A2412691. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T195753A2412691.en. Retrieved 13 January 2022.

External links

https://fantaseaaquariums.com/fishes-care/golden-dwarf-moray-eel-care/

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[1] Smith, D.G.; McCosker, J.; Tighe, K. (2019). "Gymnothorax melatremus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T195753A2412691. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T195753A2412691.en. Retrieved 13 January 2022.

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