Fun Gymnothorax Tile Facts For Kids

Gymnothorax tile, or freshwater moray eels, like others of the family of moray eels are recognized as freshwater or tropical fishes. They are mainly found in rivers or estuaries in India especially in Kolkata, and in regions such as Malaysia, the Philippines, Indo-West Pacific, the Andaman Islands, and Hawaii.

They are also known by their common name, Indian mud moray, and are predatory fishes. They are characterized by their long, flattened, brown, or black-colored body.

They are best suited to brackish water, but they fare well in and can adapt to various habitats. They are also persistent in estuaries or salt marshes that go beyond the temperature range that they prefer.

This variety of moray eels is often treated as food in parts of the world where it is readily available. However, raising them as pets can be problematic due to their aggressive nature and rigid eating habits.

Their tropical habitat is difficult to replicate in a domestic tank. However, if taken care of properly and given their favorite foods, freshwater moray can prove to be excellent pets for you!

If you like reading and learning about different fish species, you should definitely check out the electric eel and conger eel here at Kidadl!

Gymnothorax Tile Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a Gymnothorax tile?

The Gymnothorax tile, or Indian mud moray, is a tropical fish that is native to the Indian and West Pacific Ocean regions.

What class of animal does a Gymnothorax tile belong to?

The Gymnothorax tile species, or moray eel (common name), is classified as a fish. It is interesting to note that eels, in spite of their snake-like appearance, are not related to them at all.

How many Gymnothorax tiles are there in the world?

There is no definite study that tells us the exact number of Gymnothorax tiles that there are in the world. Their conservation status of Least Concern suggests that the population of this fish species is not declining.

Where does a Gymnothorax tile live?

Freshwater moray fish prefer brackish waters where the salt saturation is high. While this species is tenacious and can bear temperatures higher or lower than this range, they tend to live at optimal health if the salinity and temperature are maintained thoroughly.

What is a Gymnothorax tile's habitat?

The habitat of Gymnothorax tileis quite widespread and they can be found all along the Pacific and Indian Ocean belts. They are estuarine creatures and can be found in abundance in brackish rivers such as in the Ganges in Kolkata. They can also be found in the Philippines, Malaysia, and the Indo-West Pacific Andaman Islands.

Who do Gymnothorax tiles live with?

This species, Gymnothorax tile, is quite aggressive and prefers to live with their own kind. When around fishes or other marine animals, they are known to attack and treat them as food.

How long does a Gymnothorax tile live?

The moray eel (Gymnothorax tile)has a rather long lifespan of about 30 years. When kept in favorable conditions, they thrive well. However, external hindrances and lack of food may reduce their life expectancy considerably.

How do they reproduce?

The Indian mud moray or freshwater moray eel usually breeds in a freshwater environment. They cannot be bred in domestic aquariums or commercial tanks. However, there is no conclusive evidence regarding the exact pattern of their breeding habits.

What is their conservation status?

According to the IUCN, the conservation status of freshwater moray eelis of Least Concern which means that their habitat and life is currently facing no immediate threat.

Gymnothorax Tile Fun Facts

What do Gymnothorax tiles look like?

The Gymnothorax tile fish, with the common name of mud moray,is a species of moray eels that are often mistaken for a snake due to its long body. Their length can reach up to 24 in (60.9 cm). These eels are usually dark brown or black in color and have orange or white specks on their body.

It is also interesting to note that although they don't have fangs like snakes, they do have a second set of jaws that are strong and help them to eat their prey.

How cute are they?

Freshwater moray eels are quite peaceful when left alone in their marine salt or brackish habitat and blend seamlessly into the water body.

How do they communicate?

There is not much evidence regarding the mode of communication that these eels employ. However, they have the ability to sense vibrations which helps them to acquire foods.

How big is a Gymnothorax tile?

A moray eel (Gymnothorax tile fish)can be as long as 24 in (60.9 cm) and would require a large tank. To get a better perspective, their size is less than half of that of a bullsnake or rattlesnake.

How fast can a Gymnothorax tile swim?

There is no conclusive study that tells us the exact speed of these eels, but their sleek and slippery build does suggest that they are fast swimmers. Additionally, they are also predatory and speed is one of the areas in which predatory fish excel.

How much does a Gymnothorax tile weigh?

The exact weight of this fish is not known, but a single mature freshwater moray weighs approximately around 2 lb (907.1 g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

The male and females of this species hardly show any difference in terms of names or features. They are simply called male freshwater moray and female freshwater moray.

What would you call a baby Gymnothorax tile?

A baby marine moray eel, like other fish off-springs, is called a fry.

What do they eat?

Moray eels are known to be omnivores, although they are most fond of feeding on crustaceans such as crabs and shrimps and small fish that they find at the bottom of rivers or brackish marshes.

Are they poisonous?

In spite of their snake-like looks, these marine moray eels pose no threat to humans. They neither have fangs or a poisonous venom that you should be scared of if you encounter one. However, you might want to bear in mind that their teeth are awfully sharp!

Would they make a good pet?

It is safe to say that this species of eels is not ideal to be kept as a pet. Not only is the environment that they are best suited to, like marine saltwater, difficult to mimic in tanks, it is also difficult for the pet parent to acquire all the foods that they prefer.

They usually reject eating any kind of food if not given live fish from time to time.

The tank size that would be required in order to have this species as a pet is also quite impractical for any domestic household. They also tend to attack other species of fishes that might be in your aquarium and attempt to eat them.

Did you know...

Indian mud morays or Gymnothorax tilesis a species that has remarkably bad eyesight. They use their strong sense of smell and the ability to sense vibrations to find prey or to detect any danger that might be approaching them.

Can Gymnothorax tiles live in freshwater?

Yes, Gymnothorax tile is a species of eels that can survive in freshwater due to their tenacity. However, under unfavorable conditions such as in a tank, they tend to stop eating.

The water that is best suited to them is salty and with a pH level that does not go lower than 9. However, snowflake eels cannot live in freshwater as they are a saltwater species.

Are Gymnothorax tiles aggressive?

When kept in an aquarium with other species, these eels can be quite aggressive and even deadly. Keeping in mind that they are used to feeding on fresh or dead fishes in their natural habitat, it becomes very difficult to save the other fishes in the aquarium from their sharp teeth and predatory nature.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other fish from our fangtooth facts and saw shark facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable gymnothorax tile coloring pages.