Taenioconger hassi

Spotted

Garden Eels

Region:Philippines
Habitat: Spotted garden eels live in colonies on the sand flats and slopes that border coral reefs at depths of 23 to 150 feet (7 to 45 m). Strong currents sweep through these areas, which have lots of sand, crushed coral and tiny mollusk shells.
Appearance: Like a slim straw, spotted garden eels can be up to 16 inches (40 cm) long
Diet: the eel sways back and forth, picking tiny animals and eggs from the water that flows by. A single garden eel can eat up to 600 tiny animals in one meal.
Range: Spotted garden eels live in the warm parts of the Pacific Ocean and the Red Sea
Interesting fact: Sneaky snake eels dive deep into the sand, far from a colony of gardens eels. The snake eels then slither their way underneath the garden eels' burrows, attacking them from underneath.
Their population remains stable, but if too many are collected in the pet trade and sold in pet stores, they may decline.