Spotted Garden Eel

The Spotted Garden Eel (Heteroconger hassi) is a peaceful species that is reef-safe, admired for its striking white body covered in dark spots, its unique burrowing behavior, and its tendency to sway gracefully in the current.

 Males typically grow slightly larger with more pronounced spotting, while females and juveniles are smaller with subtler markings. They reach about 16 inches in length and should be housed in aquariums of at least 50 gallons. A deep sandbed of 6–8 inches is essential for burrowing, along with stable water parameters (salinity ~1.020–1.025, temperature ~72–79°F, pH ~8.1–8.4). Provide open swimming space, live sand for digging, and a secure lid since this species can attempt to escape.

 Their diet should consist of meaty microfoods such as mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, copepods, and other small planktonic fare delivered in the water column. With proper care, this eel makes a fascinating and standout addition to a peaceful reef or community aquarium.

International Aquatics Quarantine & Guarantee: All fish are checked by marine vets, given a formalin bath, and held for 14 days in copper-treated systems. We feed Selcon-soaked food with Kanaplex and Metroplex during quarantine. Unless marked, all livestock comes with our 15-Day Guarantee. You will receive a video of your fish eating before shipment. On request, we also send photos/videos after arrival at IA. Some species are import-to-order (3-10 business days). Many common species are already cleared or near the end of QT.

Several species will be import-to-order and may take anywhere from 3-10 business days to secure. Once your fish is secured, you will be notified, and the quarantine process will then begin.