Thirty-one clinically healthy purple mouth moray eels of unknown age and sex were caught from the wild, maintained at an average salinity of 31ppt and temperature between 23-24 degrees Celsius, and anesthetized fifty days following capture for blood collection and microchip placement. With this knowledge, precautionary measures including dietary modifications could be instituted in aquarium-maintained moray eels to possibly prevent the development of lipid keratopathy. These data can also provide baseline values for cholesterol and triglycerides in recently wild-caught moray eels to aid in monitoring elevations to these values in captivity over time. The primary purpose of this study was to establish plasma biochemistry reference intervals for healthy recently wild-caught purple mouth moray eels ( Gymnothorax vicinus) to enhance medical care in captivity. 4 The prevalence of lipid keratopathy has been associated with the apparent predisposition for increased serum triglyceride and cholesterol values in moray eels however, adjustments to the dietary regime may improve lipid keratopathy in some cases. 1-2,4-8 Of particular interest is the development of lipid keratopathy which, when severe, can cause visual impairment resulting in difficulty navigating an enclosure. Contact dermatitis, gastric mucus gland hyperplasia, lipid keratopathy, and cutaneous granulomatous and xanthomatous lesions are conditions that have been documented in captive moray eels. As the demand increases for exhibiting moray eels, there should also be an increased responsibility and awareness for their health and wellbeing in captivity. Moray eels are commonly on display at commercial aquariums, zoological parks, and in large home aquariums.
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