Green wolf eels make colorful additions to larger, semi-aggressive saltwater tanks. They’re a good option if you’d like an eel-looking fish, but don’t want to have to keep them by themselves in a tank.
What Is A Green Wolf Eel?
Wolf eels are not eels at all, although they look like them. They are sometimes referred to as “blennies”. But, they are actually a type of dottyback. They are the largest species in the Pseudochromidae family, reaching lengths up to 18 in (45.7 cm).
There are larger wolf eels (Anarrhichthys ocellatus). These fish are part of the “wolffish” family. They are often seen in aquariums, but are rarely kept in home aquariums. They grow too large, often reaching 8.2 ft (2.5 m) long.
Female green wolf eels are a dark brown color with beautiful spots of green all along its body. Males are more vibrant green than females. They have green spots along their heads, and the pattern is unique to each individual fish. There is also a long, dark blotch on their gill cover.
“Coloration varied, capable of changing its color. Spots or blotches on body form reticulations and crossbands; paler ventrally. Gill membranes ventrally free from the isthmus. Posterior otic sensory canal pore present. Cephalic sensory canal pores not pigmented.”
Green wolf eel teeth are strong enough to crack open the hard shells of snails, mussels, and clams.
- Common Names: Green wolf eel, carpet eel blenny, eared eel blenny
- Scientific Name: Congrogadus subducens
- Origin: Indo-Pacific — south from the Nicobar Islands and southern Japan to northern Australia
- Wolf Eel Size (Length): 18 in (45.7 cm)
- Aquarium Size: 125+ gallons
- Temperament: Highly aggressive
- Ease of Care: Easy
Habitat
The green wolf eel’s natural habitat consists of shallow coastal marine habitats. They enjoy having lots of rock and hiding places. They also live in coral reefs and brackish estuaries.
Behavior & Temperament
The green wolf eel is shy, preferring to hide from other fish. The Western Australia Museum describes them as:
“A secretive species that is seldom seen away from the cover of rocks, rubble or reef crevices.”
Despite being shy, the green wolf eel is a highly aggressive species. They will eat anything they can fit in their mouths. They prefer backing themselves into crevices within rocks. They sit within the rocks with only their heads poking out. Then, they wait for prey to swim by before lunging and striking.
How To Care For A Green Wolf Eel
A green wolf eel makes a good addition to a saltwater tank because they are brightly colored and hardy.
Tank Size & Decorations
Green wolf eels are large fish that need plenty of space to swim around. So, you will need at least 125 gal (473.2 L) for a single fish.
These eels are excellent jumpers, so be sure to keep a secure lid on your aquarium.
Provide them with plenty of hiding spaces so that they will feel secure. Live rock and coral make good options for hiding places.
Green Wolf Eel Diet
Green wolf eels are voracious predators. In the wild, they feast on fish, crabs, mussels, and clams, among others.
Most of these fish are wild-caught, so you’ll need to feed them live food until you can transition them to frozen food. They have amazing eyesight, so watching them chase after live food is a spectacle.
Often, wolf eels transition to frozen food quickly. In the meantime, you can provide them with feeders. Good feeders include ghost shrimp, feeder guppies, rose red minnows, or goldfish.
It’s not necessary to transition your fish to frozen food, but it’s advisable. Live food has the potential for introducing disease into your tank. Live food also stimulates your fish’s hunting behavior, making it more aggressive. If you ever plan to add tank mates, it’s a good idea to switch to frozen food.
Once you switch them to frozen food, you can give them a variety of shrimp, krill, squid, and other frozen foods.
Within no time, your green wolf eel will anticipate feeding time. They can learn to eat out of your hand, although it’s safer to use tongs.
Green Wolf Eel Tank Mates
Green wolf eels are highly aggressive toward any fish smaller than themselves. You can keep them in reef tanks with caution, but be sure not to include any fish smaller than the eel.
To be safe, it’s best to choose semi-aggressive to aggressive species. Make sure they are similar in size to your green wolf eel.
Tank mates that are generally safe include:
- Tangs
- Lionfish
- Large clownfish
How Does the Green Wolf Eel Compare To Other Eels?
Are you not sure if a green wolf eel is right for your aquarium? See how they compare to other common aquarium eels.
| Green Wolf Eel | Electric Eel | Snowflake Moray Eel | Fire Eel | Honeycomb Moray Eel | Ribbon Moray Eel | |
| Temperament | Aggressive | Semi-Aggressive | Semi-Aggressive | Mostly Peaceful | Aggressive | Semi-Aggressive |
| Preferred Habitat | Live Rock | Low-light, sandy/muddy substrate with rocks | Live Rock & Caves | Gravel substrate, low-light, with rocks/caves | Live Rocks & Caves | Live Rock |
| Lifespan | 5 years | Males: 10-15 years Females: 12-22 years | 5-15 years | 10 years | 30 years | 20 years |
| Size | 18 in (45.7 cm) | 8 ft (2.4 m) | 24 in (61 cm) | 40 in (100 cm) | 4-5 ft (1.2-1.5 m) | 36-48 in (91.4-121.9 cm) |
| Saltwater VS Freshwater | Saltwater | Freshwater | Saltwater | Freshwater | Saltwater | Saltwater |
| True Eel? | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Conclusion
Green wolf eels are aggressive toward fish smaller than themselves. So, you shouldn’t try to keep them in a tank with small fish. Still, they do well with larger fish who have a similar temperament to their own.
These eels are one of the smaller eel-like species you can keep in a saltwater tank. They are colorful, hardy, and easy to feed. So, they make a good addition for anyone who’s never owned an eel before. They also make good additions for anyone who just wants some extra color to spruce up their tank.
FAQs
Green wolf eels have strong jaws that make them formidable predators. Still, they are not aggressive toward humans. The only time they may pose a threat is if someone provokes them.
The green wolf eel’s population is stable. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists them as “least concern”.
Green wolf eels live across a variety of habitats. They are not used or eaten by humans, and there are not any major threats facing them.
There are no records of anyone consuming green wolf eels.
