Dusky Garden Eel
NameDusky Garden Eel
Scientific NameHeteroconger longissimus
Common NamesDusky Garden Eel, Brown Garden Eel, Long-fin Garden Eel
FamilyCongridae
OriginIndo-Pacific, Red Sea, East Africa, French Polynesia, Southern Japan, Australia
Temperamentpeaceful
Dietcarnivore
Care Levelexpert
Minimum Tank Size (Gallons)120
Max Size (Inches)16
Water TypeSaltwater
Temperature Range (°F)72-82
pH Range8.1-8.4
Compatible SpeciesSmall Gobies, Blennies, Cardinalfish, Other peaceful, small plankton-feeding fish
Description
The Dusky Garden Eel is a fascinating, shy species that lives in colonies on sandy bottoms, extending its body from a burrow to feed on passing zooplankton. They require a very deep sand bed in an aquarium to thrive and are known for their unique swaying motion. Due to their specialized needs, they are considered an expert-level species for dedicated aquarists.
