Congridae Care   4/1/07
Hey Bob,
<Hey Becky this is actually Adam J. with you tonight.>
I was on my monthly fish store spending spree when I came across this guy and fell in love so of course knowing nothing about him I about him.
<An impulse buy? I'll start the finger wagging.....>
He's a Spotted garden eel (Heteroconger hassi) about a foot long.    I've been searching all over the web and I can't seem to find any specific information on keeping him.  
<These eels, family Congridae are well known by the scientific family and as Bob puts it they are the "darlings" of many public aquariums.  Though the animals themselves do not grow large, in order for them to thrive in captivity they require very large aquariums with deep almost-oolitic sand beds. Furthermore they have quite specific dietary needs, relying mostly on live zooplankton that the currents deliver to them.  You'll either have to have a VERY large zooplankton/microfauna refugium or plankton cultures.  Needless to say they aren't kept very often or very long in your average marine aquaria.>
Normally I do my research before buying a fish and have it well planed out now I know why.  Could you help me please.
<http://www.wetwebmedia.com/congridae.htm ; See here.>
What does he need to have a happy home?
<See above and the linked FAQ's.>
Because If I can't supply those things I will return him so someone else can give him one.  Thank you for the help.   
<No problem.>
Sincerely,
Becky
<Adam J.>

Please identify the eel ... congrid   6/2/06
Hello Crew,
<Eric>
I'm back again with another query. I recently saw an eel at a LFS that was similar in length and girth to a garden eel (Taenioconger hassi), but had a strikingly different coloration. This eel was about 10 inches long and had alternating bands of orange and white encircling the body. I was unable to find a similar creature on fishbase.org, your website or a number of commercial sites. Does anyone have any idea about the species and care requirements?
Thanks in advance,
Eric
<Mmm, maybe... http://filaman.ifm-geomar.de/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=12704&genusname=Gorgasia&speciesname=preclara.
Have never seen this fish, period... know nothing re its care, but should be about the same as other congrids.
Bob Fenner>

Re: Please identify the eel   6/2/06
Hello Bob,
Thanks for the quick reply.  It was ID'ed on another board as a Splendid Garden Eel (Gorgasia preclara). The link below is to a picture of the eel. http://www.sergeyphoto.com/underwater/reeffish/allmiscreeffish/splendidgarde neel1.jpg
Eric
<Ah, the same as my guess. BobF>

Re: Please identify the eel  - 06/02/2006
You and Frank Marini both got it.  I guess great minds do think alike!
<Heeee! Wish I were young, had Frank's occupational possibilities and good looks...>
Unfortunately the store only had the one eel and it was bought before I could return.  Oh well.  Maybe for my next tank - but don't tell my wife I said that ;)
<Shhhhh! BobF>

Fish ID...Garden Eels
Hi Crew,
<Hello Johnny>
Wondering if you can help me ID a fish I saw recently at the London Aquarium? I have tried to email them, but no reply ... there was also no ID on the display.
There were a number of Eel type fish with a diameter of a little less than 1cm. They constantly kept their tails in the sand (almost like a Jawfish) but extended (7 - 8cm) to grab at particles drifting in the current.
A number were silvery - grey in colour with two distinct dark spots on their flanks while others had an almost clownfish colouration, orange with white bands separated with black.
Fascinating to watch! I did record a short vid of them but it would be far too big to mail ...
Any idea's?
<Sure sounds like Garden Eels to me, Johnny.  Have a look here.  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/congridae.htm>
Johnny, Sunny London ...<When?>
<James (Salty Dog) in Tropical Michigan>

Snake eel / eel snake???
Clear Day Hello, Bob.
Do you ever help people to identify "sea creatures"?
<All the time>
Last time out in the Gulf of Mexico (off Port O'Conner, TX) one of guys
caught some type of eel, or snake, or something!  It's length was a little
over 6 1/2 ft.  It had no over-all body "fin", just one that looked to be
about 1 - 1 1/2 ft. on its back (about halfway down).  It's head was
club-like with what looks like a fin by it's gill.  The eyes were further
back than most eels, and on either side of its head (as opposed to close
together).   The coloring was banded - tan and a mute orange.  The stomach
was white.  The tail (and I can't be sure from the picture) doesn't "really"
appear to be flat, but it could be. It also (the tail) was a dark brown or
black... kind of like a rattlesnake's tail turns dark where the rattles are
located.
Anyway....sorry I took so long ... what I'm wondering if I sent you a
picture of it, would you be able to help me identify WHAT it is?  Or would
know someone to send me  to identify it?
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Sharon Wolfe
<Mmm, from the description, particularly the size, I'd guess this to be Conger oceanicus, an American Conger Eel... Please see here: http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?ID=300&genusname=Conger&speciesname=oceanicus
and the Google Images linked there... Do send the pic along if you have one. Bob Fenner>

Re: Snake eel / eel snake???
Hello, again.
I don't have the capability to send it to you (other than snail mail), but
my son has it on his
website....... please look at it and confirm it is an American Conger Eel.
The site address is www.littlehoppers.com  once there (on first page and
down a little) click on
"Fishin' Tales",  scroll down (second page) to "June 2005" click on that,
when this page comes up
click on either of the first two pictures. (7' eel-sea snake type critter
340' water)  To enlarge picture,
click on the picture.
Let me know what you think, please.  I appreciate all your help!!!
Thanks ever so much,
Sharon
<Ah, yes... does look like the American Conger Eel. Bob Fenner>

Re: Snake eel / eel snake???
A big THANKS for helping us out --- from ALL of us.
Truly, --- The whole Wolfe Family
<Welcome. Thank you for sending your query, adventure along to share. Bob Fenner>