Common name: Hawaiian garden eel

Scientific name: Gorgasia hawaiiensis Randall & Chess, 1980

General information

The Hawaiian Garden Eel, Gorgasia hawaiiensis, is a fascinating and unique species that adds a touch of the exotic to any marine aquarium. These eels are known for their slender bodies and distinctive behavior of protruding from the sand while swaying with the current to catch plankton. They are generally peaceful and can be kept with other non-aggressive fish.

Details

Recommended minimum tank volume
150 liter (40 gallons)
Salinity
S.G. 1.023 to 1.025
Temperature
23 to 27 °C (73 to 81 °F)
Acidity
pH 8.1 to 8.4
Average size
60 cm (2′)
Care level
Moderate to easy Requires fine sand for burrowing
Diet
Carnivore Prefers live or frozen foods
Social
Solo Territorial, best kept alone
Reefsafe
Yes
Aggression
Peaceful
Captive bred
No

Taxonomy

  1. Kingdom
    Animals
    Animalia
  2. Phylum
    Chordates
    Chordata
  3. Class
    Ray-finned Fishes
    Actinopterygii
  4. Order
    Eels
    Anguilliformes
  5. Family
    Conger eels
    Congridae
  6. Genus
    Garden Eels
    Gorgasia
  7. Species
    Hawaiian garden eel
    Gorgasia hawaiiensis Randall & Chess, 1980

Care

Hawaiian Garden Eels require a deep sand bed to burrow and establish their territory. They are shy and may hide if the aquarium is too busy or if there are aggressive tank mates. Feeding can be challenging as they prefer live foods like copepods, brine shrimp, and other small planktonic organisms. A well-established tank with a refugium can help sustain a population of live food for these eels.

Reproduction

In the wild, Hawaiian Garden Eels are known to form colonies with each individual maintaining its own burrow. Reproduction involves a unique dance where males and females rise from their burrows to release gametes into the water column. In the aquarium, breeding is rare and not well documented.

Habitat

Native to the Hawaiian Islands, these eels are typically found in sandy areas adjacent to reefs at depths ranging from 7 to 45 meters. They prefer areas with moderate to strong currents which aid in their planktonic feeding habits.