Spotted garden eel

The spotted garden eel is a slender marine eel in the family Congridae, found across the Indo-Pacific. It has a long, thin, pale body covered in fine black spots and lives partly buried in sandy seabeds, extending upward from its burrow to feed while retreating tail-first when disturbed. These eels are colonial and social, living in large groups in the wild, and should be kept in a small group rather than alone to feel secure. A specialized aquarium with a deep, fine sand bed of at least several centimeters, gentle current, and calm tankmates is essential, along with a tight lid as they can escape. They are planktivores that feed on drifting zooplankton, requiring frequent feedings of small suspended foods such as baby brine shrimp and finely chopped mysis kept in the water column. They are timid and easily outcompeted by boisterous fish.