Seen at Salt Pier: Moray Eel Bites Large Filefish, Swallows It in One Piece

[nippurmagnum]

Warning: viewer discretion is advised.

I was in Bonaire the third week of January, and was doing a lovely night dive at Salt Pier. Towards the end of my dive, I realized that a moray eel that was actively hunting by my lights. The moray spotted a large filefish seemingly asleep right above a coralhead, sneaked up under it, and after a few seconds, bit its tail. Then the moray rolled to the bottom, dragging the filefish down, and got the head of the fish in its mouth. The moray proceeded to swallow the entire fish in one piece.

This would have been infinitely better as video than as still shots, but as luck would have it, my memory card had nearly filled up right before the moray attacked, and it was all I could manage to shoot some stills. The moray's contortions with the struggling filefish kicked up a lot of sand, but I haven't Photoshopped these at all (yet).

 

[scubadada]

It's a tough world

 

[Mo2vation]

Just wow. So cool to be there to see (and capture) it. That last shot is a winner!

Thanks for sharing.

- K

 

[GreggS]

Nice sequence of shots. Witnessing nature in action is always thrilling.

Good job.

 

[maadJurguer]

I have a video of a moray hunting a lobster, in daylight, on Bonaire from two trips ago...will have to dredge that video up......I know....pics, or it didn't happen!

 

[Trailboss123]

Great photos- I saw that Moray both times I dived Salt Pier the last 2 weeks. What a great experience you had to witness that.

Here is a pic I took of him/her:

 

[Norwegian Cave Diver]

Wonder how long that fish will feed the eel? Looks like plenty of food.

 

[nippurmagnum]

Great photos- I saw that Moray both times I dived Salt Pier the last 2 weeks. What a great experience you had to witness that.

Here is a pic I took of him/her:
View attachment 565967

Too bad we didn’t run into each other in Bonaire!

I have no idea how common it is for morays to eat something as large as a filefish, and to swallow it whole. But it it was rather brutal to watch, and it definitely changed my perception of morays. I used to think of them as lethargic. Not anymore.

 

[BoundForElsewhere]

That was freaking AWESOME.

 

[Lorenzoid]

I saw a big moray chase lobsters once, so I imagine it’s common for them to eat large prey. They must have some serious bite pressure to chomp on a lobster.