Common name: Hawaiian garden eel

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.

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.