Freshwater Moray

Looks like a snake

The freshwater moray belongs to the order known as Anguilliformes, or eels. Despite its name it usually lives in brackish water. It lacks pectoral fins, giving it a snake-like appearance, and it has a thick, leathery skin without scales. Moray eels prefer to live in caves, holes, and beneath stones, preferably on sandy bottoms. They vigilantly defend their nesting holes. The freshwater moray has a keen sense of smell and can catch large prey. 

An undeserved bad reputation

Freshwater morays – and other moray eels – unfortunately have a bad reputation of attacking divers or people tending to the eels’ tanks. This is not true, however, as they prefer to stay away from people. But aquarium-living specimens can become fearless enough to eat out of a person’s hand. The freshwater moray has plenty of very sharp teeth. It often hides so that only the head is visible, and when a prey approaches it strikes out.