White Ribbon Eel (Pseudechidna brummeri)

Max Size: 3 feet 4 inches
Diet: Carnivore
Temperament: Semi-Aggressivel
Reef Compatible: With Caution. May eat fish and crustaceans.
Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons

The Ghost Eel, also known as the White Ribbon Eel, is a species closely related to the Blue and Black Ribbon Eel of the Rhinomuraena genus. These elusive creatures are rarely spotted by divers during the day, but can be seen on night dives. With a length of up to 40 inches, Ghost Eels are long and slender with a white body and black spots on the head and face. Their nostrils are long and protruding. As they age, their body color may darken and become light brown.

While Ghost Eels are easier to care for and feed than Black or Blue Ribbon Eels, they can be initially difficult to feed and can escape easily from the aquarium. Therefore, a 50-gallon or larger aquarium with plenty of live rock and a tightly-fitted canopy is ideal to provide cover and prevent escape. Poorly sealed tanks are the leading cause of eel loss in aquariums.

Ghost Eels are generally safe to cohabitate with most fish that are not small enough to fit in the eel's mouth. However, overly aggressive, territorial, or active fish should be avoided as they may pick on the eel's ribbon-like tail, and make feeding the eel challenging. They can be housed with invertebrates such as soft corals, polyps, mushrooms, and filter feeders. To avoid being consumed by the eel, small shrimp should not be kept in the aquarium.

In the wild, Ghost Eels prey on small fish and crustaceans. In the aquarium, they may initially require live foods such as ghost shrimp, but will eventually consume frozen or freeze-dried krill, strips of fresh fish, fresh uncooked shrimp chunks, and other meaty foods. They can be trained to hand-feed using a feeding stick.