Tessalata Eel

Description

Tessalata Eels, Gymnothorax favagineus, also go by the name Leopard Eel. These are superb fish to have in the aquarium just from their looks alone.

These eels have a distinctive appearance. They have a mottled pattern of yellow, brown, and black spots which gives the fish its name.

Tessalata Eels, Gymnothorax favagineus, Ecology:

Tessalata Eels occur in the Indo-Pacific. Their range includes: East Africa, Japan, Australia, Papua New Guinea and the Red Sea.

These fish feed on a variety of small fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods. They are primarily nocturnal and will spend much of their time hiding in crevices and caves during the day.

During the breeding season, males will construct a nest and guard their eggs until they hatch. After hatching, the larvae will drift in the planktonic stage until they settle on the bottom and begin their life as a juvenile eel.

Leopard Eel In the Aquarium:

It is important to have plenty of nooks or crannies where your Tessalata Eel can explore and feel at home.

These fish are carnivores and do best when fed an enriched and varied diet. They will accept frozen whole fish, krill or large mysis, depending on the size of the eel. We enrich all our frozen food with garlic and vitamins. These are great for keeping fish healthy by providing them with the nutrition otherwise lost in frozen food. In doing so, these additives support their immune system and increase longevity. These fish do not eat everyday so be mindful to remove rejected food or target feed them.

Alternatively, Tessalata Eels will also eat live foods such as shrimp. We suggest feeding the shrimp before offering them, just so the meal is more nutritious. We adapt all our eel to aquarium life before they leave us. Most are feeding on frozen food before leaving us and we focus on their health.

Eels can live in a mixed group or alone. Feel free to give us a call with any questions.

The Fish pictured here are representative only and the livestock you receive may vary in pattern, coloration, and shape.