Race-Track Garden Eel (Heteroconger perissodon)
Fish in the family Congridae. Hard care. Reef Safe with Caution.
Quick facts
Appearance
Heteroconger perissodon is an elongated, snake-like eel with a slender body. It displays variable coloration ranging from pale tan to yellowish-brown with distinctive dark spots or "race-track" markings along the body, which give it its common name. The head is relatively small with large eyes adapted for spotting food in sandy substrates.
Diet and feeding
In captivity, feed small meaty foods including frozen or live copepods, amphipods, small frozen shrimp, and mysis shrimp. Feed 2-3 times daily in small portions to match natural grazing behavior.
Difficulty and care for the Race-Track Garden Eel
Care for garden eels is challenging. They require stable conditions, a fine sand substrate for burrowing, excellent water quality, consistent feeding of small live or frozen prey, and social stability (they are colony animals). Failure to provide adequate food or proper substrate often results in starvation.
Common health issues
Starvation, parasitic infections, bacterial infections, substrate damage from improper tank mates, stress-related disease
Origin and habitat
Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea through the Indian Ocean to the Great Barrier Reef and parts of the western Pacific. Found in shallow reef environments and sandy areas adjacent to coral formations.
Log Race-Track Garden Eel in your reef tank
Reef Trak gives you the full record on every species in your tank: acquisition date, source, photos, parameters at time of stocking, and links to maintenance and feeding events. Track Race-Track Garden Eel alongside everything else in your reef.
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