Splendid Garden Eel (Gorgasia preclara)

The Splendid Garden Eel is a captivating species known for its vibrant coloration and unique burrowing behavior. With a long, slender body adorned in a beautiful pattern of orange and white bands, this eel adds a pop of color to the tank. Much like other garden eels, the Splendid Garden Eel spends most of its time half-burrowed in the sand, swaying with the current as it feeds on plankton. Due to its sensitive nature, it requires a stable and well-maintained environment with deep sandy substrate for burrowing.

Care Information

• Maximum Size: Up to 16 inches, with much of the body remaining buried in the substrate.
• Tank Size: 70 gallons minimum, with a sand bed at least 6 inches deep for burrowing. Larger tanks are recommended if keeping groups.
• Diet: Carnivorous; feeds on plankton and small meaty foods in the wild. In captivity, it should be target-fed with live or frozen foods like mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and finely chopped seafood. Frequent feedings are necessary for its health.
• Water Temp: 72-78°F.
• Salinity: 1.020-1.025.
• Aggression: Peaceful; best kept with other peaceful species. Avoid housing with large or aggressive fish that could disturb or prey on the eel.
• Skill Level: Intermediate; requires a mature tank with stable water conditions, deep sand, and gentle water flow. It is sensitive to rapid changes in water quality and requires consistent care.
• Reef Compatibility: Reef-safe; does not harm corals or invertebrates, making it a good addition to peaceful reef setups.

Special Requirement - Deep Sand Bed
The Splendid Garden Eel needs a deep sandy substrate (6 inches or more) to create burrows and feel secure. It is best suited to tanks with minimal disturbance in the sand bed, as it spends much of its life anchored in place, gently swaying in the current as it feeds.

Compatibility
This eel is peaceful and can be housed with other non-aggressive tankmates. It should not be kept with larger or predatory species that might stress or prey on it. Ideally, the tank should have gentle flow and a calm environment to support its feeding habits.

Coloration

• Indo-Pacific Region: The Splendid Garden Eel has a striking pattern of orange and white bands, with a touch of blue near the head. This unique coloration, combined with its graceful swaying movement, adds visual interest to the aquarium​.

Typical Habitat

• Distribution: Found in the Indo-Pacific, especially in sandy, open reef slopes where it forms colonies. It thrives in mature tanks with stable conditions, deep sand for burrowing, and low-stress surroundings.