The Indian mud moray's eyesight is very poor, and instead of using vision, the species rather relies upon a keen sense of smell and vibrations in the water to detect prey or threats.

[3] While the Indian mud moray typically lives in marine conditions, it travels to fresh water for breeding and spawning.

Pure fresh water can cause these eels to reject their food and develop a variety of diseases that greatly shorten their life span.

There are no major threats known to this species, although it may be impacted by coastal development, runoff and habitat degradation in some portions of its distribution.

[6] Gymnothorax tile is known from the Indo-West Pacific from India east to Queensland, Australia, and including the Andaman Islands, Indonesia and the Philippines.