Common name: Spotted garden eel
General information
The Spotted Garden Eel, Heteroconger hassi, is a fascinating and unique addition to the marine aquarium. These eels are known for their distinctive spotted patterns and slender bodies, which can reach up to 40 cm in length. They are often seen in groups, protruding from sandy substrates in the wild, swaying with the currents as they feed on plankton.
Details
- Recommended minimum tank volume
- 150 liter (40 gallons)
- Salinity
- S.G. 1.022 to 1.025
- Temperature
- 22 to 26 °C (72 to 79 °F)
- Acidity
- pH 8 to 8.4
- Average size
- 40 cm (1′4″)
- Care level
- Moderate to easy Needs sandbed for burrowing
- Diet
- Carnivore Enjoys mysis, brine shrimp
- Social
- Harem Prefers groups, sandbed space needed
- Reefsafe
- Yes
- Aggression
- Peaceful
- Captive bred
- No
- Conservation statusSource: IUCN Red List
Taxonomy
- KingdomAnimalsAnimalia
- PhylumChordatesChordata
- ClassRay-finned FishesActinopterygii
- OrderEelsAnguilliformes
- FamilyConger eelsCongridae
- GenusGarden EelHeteroconger
- SpeciesSpotted garden eelHeteroconger hassi (Klausewitz & Eibl-Eibesfeldt, 1959)
- SynonymsLeptocephalus maculatus Della Croce & Castle, 1966Taenioconger haasi (Klausewitz & Eibl-Eibesfeldt, 1959)Taenioconger hassi neocaledoniensis Castle, 1967Xarifania hassi Klausewitz & Eibl-Eibesfeldt, 1959
Care
Spotted Garden Eels require a specialized aquarium setup that replicates their natural environment. A deep sand bed is essential for them to burrow and establish their territories. They are shy and peaceful creatures that should be kept with non-aggressive tank mates. Feeding can be challenging as they prefer live or frozen foods like mysis shrimp and brine shrimp that drift by in the water column.
Reproduction
In the wild, Spotted Garden Eels are known to form colonies with complex social structures. They are not commonly bred in captivity due to their specific requirements and the difficulty in simulating their natural reproductive behaviors.
Habitat
Native to the Indo-Pacific region, Heteroconger hassi is typically found in sandy burrows at depths ranging from 7 to 45 meters. They are a coastal species, often observed in areas with strong currents which aid in their planktonic feeding habits.