Snowflake Moray (Echidna nebulosa)

Fish in the family Muraenidae. Moderate care. Not Reef Safe.

Quick facts

Scientific nameEchidna nebulosa

FamilyMuraenidae

Also known asStarry Moray, Morena Estrellada

Care levelModerate

Reef safetyNot Reef Safe

TemperamentSemi Aggressive

Dietcarnivore

Adult size24 in

Minimum tank size75 gallons

Water parametersTemperature: 72-78°F pH: 8.1-8.3 Salinity: 1.02-1.025

Feeding scheduleEvery 2-3 days

Appearance

Snowflake Moray is a thick-bodied moray eel with a marbled pattern of white/cream and dark brown coloration, resembling snowflakes on dark stone. The body is stout with a blunt, rounded snout and small eyes. Unlike many morays, this species is relatively docile and often more visible than its reclusive relatives.

Diet and feeding

Feed frozen-thawed or live crustaceans such as shrimp, small fish, and squid. Offer food 2–3 times per week; morays are ambush predators and do not require daily feeding.

Difficulty and care for the Snowflake Moray

Moderate difficulty. Snowflake Morays require secure tank setups with tight-fitting lids to prevent escape, good water quality, and live rock for shelter. They are not reef-safe and will consume small fish and invertebrates, but are hardier and more interactive than many moray species.

Common health issues

Parasitic infections (particularly saltwater ich), mucus coat breakdown from poor water quality, head and lateral line erosion (HLLE) in suboptimal conditions, secondary fungal/bacterial infections.

Origin and habitat

Indo-Pacific region from the Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian Islands, including the Great Barrier Reef and Indo-Australian archipelago.

Log Snowflake Moray in your reef tank

Reef Trak gives you the full record on every species in your tank: acquisition date, source, photos, parameters at time of stocking, and links to maintenance and feeding events. Track Snowflake Moray alongside everything else in your reef.

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