Spotted Garden Eel (Heteroconger hassi) Care Guide
Heteroconger hassi is an Indo-Pacific garden eel that lives in large sand-burrow colonies and feeds on zooplankton from the water column.
Overview
Heteroconger hassi, the spotted garden eel, is a slender marine eel of the family Congridae. It has an eel-like body with a circular cross-section and two large black spots as identifying features. The species lives in large colonies on sandy slopes in the Indo-Pacific, emerging from individual burrows to feed.
Taxonomy
- Family: Congridae
- Genus: Heteroconger
- Scientific name: Heteroconger hassi
Habitat
The species ranges across the Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea and East Africa to the Society Islands, north to the Ryukyu and Ogasawara Islands and south to northwestern Australia and New Caledonia, throughout Micronesia. It inhabits sandy slopes, generally below 15 m, at depths of about 1 to 50 m, in waters of roughly 25-29 °C.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 400 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- GH: 8-12 °dGH
- Substrate: deep, fine sand bed required for burrowing
- Group size: keep in groups of 5 or more
- Adult size: 30-40 cm (FishBase reports up to 45 cm)
- Lifespan: 5-10 years
Diet
Heteroconger hassi is a carnivore; adults consume zooplankton. It feeds almost continuously while anchored in its burrow, picking drifting plankton from the current, so captive care requires steady delivery of small suspended foods.
Compatibility
This is a peaceful, bottom-associated, colonial species. FishBase notes colonies can contain up to several hundred individuals, and the eels withdraw into their burrows when approached. It is best kept with peaceful planktivores and away from aggressive fish or active bottom dwellers that would disturb the sand bed.
Breeding
The species is an egg-layer. Captive breeding is regarded as expert-level and is rarely achieved.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2016).