Splendid Garden Eel
Gorgasia preclara
| Stock | Variations | Price | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Out of Stock | 2.75 - 3.75" - Indo-Pacific | Original price was: $186.99.$98.99Current price is: $98.99. | Email me |
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Full guarantee terms →Ships Monday – Thursday for next-day arrival at your nearest FedEx Hold location — typically ready by 9 AM. We monitor every delivery.
Shipping details →
Monday – Friday 8 AM – 9 PM
Saturday 12 PM – 4 PM
Sunday 12 PM – 9 PM
Healthy, stable animals from vetted suppliers — inspected before packing, shipped overnight. Decades of experience built this model so we can deliver premium livestock at 30%+ less than you'd pay elsewhere.
| Care Level | Expert |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Reef Safe | Yes |
| Functional Benefit | Ornamental Only |
| Diet Type | Planktivore |
| Mininum Tank Size | 70 gallons |
| Max Size | 18 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
The Splendid Garden Eel (Gorgasia preclara) is a slender, banded eel that anchors itself in a sand burrow and extends into the water column like a patch of seagrass. In the wild it’s found on sandy slopes exposed to current, where it feeds on drifting plankton.
What You’ll Observe:
- Holds a “hovering” posture from its burrow, facing into the flow for long stretches
- Gradually spends longer periods extended from the sand as it settles in over the first 1–3 weeks
- Snaps at passing food and returns to the same burrow opening between feedings
- In a small group, individuals often space themselves out and rise together at feeding time
Provide a deep, stable sandbed (many aquarists aim around 5–6″+) with open sand areas and a gentle-to-moderate current that brings food past the burrow openings. Offer small planktonic foods in repeated, smaller feedings (for example cyclops/roe, enriched baby brine, and mysis) so it gets multiple chances to feed in the water column.
Do garden eels “need” to be kept in a group to show natural behavior?
They can be kept singly, but many keepers prefer small groups because multiple eels tend to settle into a visible “garden” pattern once established.
Is it normal for a garden eel to stay down and not show itself much at first?
Yes’new specimens often spend more time in the burrow early on, then extend farther and more often as the tank becomes familiar and feeding becomes routine.
How do I feed them without blasting sand everywhere?
Many hobbyists do best by broadcast-feeding fine foods upstream of the burrow zone and letting the flow carry food past them, rather than target-feeding at the sand surface.
Do they use rock caves like other eels, or only sand burrows?
Most of their “home base” behavior centers on a sand burrow; they typically choose an open sand zone where they can extend into the current.
Will they keep the same burrow forever?
They often keep a consistent spot once established, but it’s also common to see a burrow shift a few inches as they refine the opening and surrounding sand.
We work with trusted suppliers who keep our specimens healthy and well-fed before shipping.
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