Spotted garden eel (Heteroconger hassi) care guide

Group
Marine fish
Other names
Hass's garden eel, Heteroconger hassi
Family
Congridae (conger and garden eels)
Origin
Indo-Pacific, East Africa and Red Sea to Polynesia, Japan to New Caledonia; current-swept sand at 15–45 m
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
40 cm
Temperature
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
Salinity SG 1.023–1.026
Minimum tank
400 litres
Care level
expert
Temperament
peaceful
Reef safe
with_caution

Care

A slim, white eel with dark spots that lives in colonies, each fish poking about a third of its body out of a burrow and facing into the current. It rarely leaves its burrow once built. It needs a dedicated tank with a very deep, fine sand bed (at least 20 cm), gentle steady flow, a peaceful setting and a tight lid; it is best kept in a group. The list notes it is rarely available and best avoided by inexperienced aquarists. Water figures here are general marine aquarium guidance, not species-specific: 24–27 °C, pH 8.1–8.4, salinity SG 1.023–1.026. Minimum tank size of about 400 litres is our estimate from the adult size and habits, not a published figure. Selling: our policies require the adult size and long-term tank needs to be stated clearly in the listing. Large fish must travel by a specialist live-animal courier (see the Livestock shipping guide). Sources: Wikipedia, List of marine aquarium fish species (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listofmarineaquariumfishspecies); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spottedgardeneel). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Picks plankton from the passing current. In aquaria it needs frequent small feeds of fine frozen foods (copepods, mysis, brine shrimp) delivered into the current near its burrow.

Breeding

In the wild, neighbouring eels move their burrows closer in the breeding season until partners can touch. Eggs and young drift in the plankton before settling. Not bred in home aquaria.

Compatibility and tank mates

Reef safe with caution: it ignores corals but may take very small shrimps. Very timid; keep only with calm fish that will not compete at feeding time.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

About Aquatic-Auctions

  • Aquatic-Auctions (aquatic-auctions.com) is a UK online marketplace for aquarium and pond livestock and equipment: tropical and marine fish, corals, shrimp, snails and other invertebrates, aquatic plants, tanks, filtration, lighting and food.
  • Items are sold by auction, buy it now or classified advert, by hobbyist and business sellers in the UK.
  • Buyers pay sellers directly; Aquatic-Auctions does not hold the money. Hobbyist sellers must offer PayPal and may also take cash on collection. Business sellers take PayPal (required) or cash on collection, and bank transfer only once they have a seller rating of 50 out of 100, a company and pet-selling licence checked by Aquatic-Auctions, a bank account in the company's name, and bank details approved by Aquatic-Auctions.
  • Buyers are told to pay by PayPal Goods & Services, never PayPal Friends and Family, gift cards or crypto.
  • Live fish and other vertebrates must be sent by specialist live-animal couriers (for example APC Overnight or DX Express), never by Royal Mail. Some invertebrates and plants may go by Royal Mail Special Delivery or 1st Class within its rules.
  • Banned and invasive species (for example those on the GB invasive species lists) cannot be listed, and sellers must meet the site’s animal welfare standards.
  • Members must be 16 or over to buy (16 and 17-year-olds with a parent or guardian’s agreement); sellers must be 18 or over.
  • Business sellers show their address, company details and pet-selling licence to buyers. Seller ratings run from 0 to 100: +1 for each positive feedback, −1 for each negative.
  • The site includes a free community species wiki with care guides (water parameters, tank size, diet, temperament, breeding).
  • Aquatic-Auctions is run by Etavonni Tech Limited trading as Aquatic-Auctions (company number 10204188), Aldershot, Hampshire, UK. Contact: info@aquatic-auctions.com.