Gorgasia preclara

Bohlke & Randall, 1981

Splendid Garden Eel, Orangebarred Garden Eel

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Maldives to Papua New Guinea, north to the Philippines and Southern Japan.

Size: 16 inches (40 cm)

Natural Environment: Burrows into deep sandy areas on inshore reefs and lagoons and is found at depths between 80 to 200 feet (20 – 60 m) and feeds on zooplankton.

General Husbandry: Has an overall creamy coloration with orange to yellowish bands. Occasionally shows up in the trade, yet usually not purposely collected.

Taxonomy:

Order: Anguilliformes

Suborder: Congroidei

Family: Congridae

Subfamily: Heterocongrinae

Genus: Gorgasia

FYI: Those in this genus are termed ‘Garden Eels’ and reside buried in the sand or mud with only their upper length/head showing while awaiting a tasty meal to come close enough to be captured and eaten without going too far their burrow. They require at a minimum, for the shortest species, very deep fine sandbeds, e.g., 8 inches (20 cm), more if a large species, and tankmates large enough not to be eaten.

Best displayed in tall ‘special species’ type aquariums/public aquarium displays.

Minimum decor is ideal, as they prefer wide-open areas to see incoming food possibilities, and to be maintained in small groups/colonies.

Basically unsuitable for the average home reef or fish-only aquarium as they require very deep substrates to encompass their entire body.

Shown here for identification only.