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The wonderful garden eels: FAQ

27/8/2021

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Do you know garden eels? They are strange tropical fishes with serpentiform bodies and puffy faces with big eyes making them, overall … super cute.
They live in large colonies oscillating like whip coral in the currents and disappear like a mirage when you approach.
We will try in this blogpost to answer the question we most often get about these fish, in the form of a garden eel FAQ...
The wonderful garden eels: FAQ
1. Who are the garden eels?
2. Why are they called “garden eels”?
3. Where do garden eels live?
4. How do they move?
5. What do garden eels feed on?
6. How do garden eel reproduce?
7. Are garden eels dangerous?
8. How do you take photo of garden eels?

Who are the garden eels?

Garden eels, together with congers make up the congridae family. The wonderful garden eel is a medium-sized fish, up to a maximum length of 40 cm. Its body has a circular shape with a diameter of about 10 mm. They dig a burrow with their tail, which they coat with mucus to avoid collapse. 

Why are they called “garden eels”?

Garden eel close up
These small eels live in burrows on the sea floor and get their name from their practice of putting their heads off their burrows while most of their bodies remain hidden. As they tend to live in groups of up to a few hundred individuals, the many eel heads "growing" from the bottom of the sea resembles a plant garden.

Where do garden eels live?

Most eels live in the warm parts of the tropical oceans including the Andaman Sea. They can be observed from afar pocking out of "eel pits" in colonies on the sandy plains and slopes that border the coral reefs. They prefer areas swept by currents which bring them more nutrients. They burrow themselves in the sand, mud (or more rarely among the rocks). Unlike most eel species who are nocturnal, garden eels feed during the day and will retreat in their burrow at night.
Garden eels in the sand

How do garden eels move?

Although garden eels can swim freely, they prefer to bury themselves in the sand... once they are big enough to dig a hole and settle down they never leave home. The exception is during the mating season when they might come out to dig a new burrow closer to their partner...

What do garden eels feed on?

Feeding on zooplankton, garden eels catch their food drifting in the ocean current, they don't need to go far but just like plants growing higher to get more sunlight, they need to protrude from the floor to get more preys. And they do this all day! All garden eels in the colony facing the current ready for the next meal. 

How do garden eel reproduce?

During mating, garden eels intertwine their upper halves, their tails remaining in their individual burrows.
Garden eels usually only leave their original burrows to get closer to their partners during the spawning season. If two males end up too close to each other, they can fight for the territory and neighboring females. During mating, garden eels intertwine their upper halves, their tails remaining in their individual burrows. Two eels can stay this way for hours during a single mating. Garden eels are pelagic spawners; they release fertilized eggs into the open water, which then float close to the surface with the current. When eggs hatch, juveniles swim freely (and get be seen on black water dives) until they grow large enough to create their own burrows.

(photo left from Pete Atkinson)

Are garden eels dangerous?

No, Garden eels are not dangerous. Their mouth is too small to bite you, they only eat zooplankton, remember? They have no venom, no spines, and very small tooth.
In fact, these little creatures are very shy and disappear underground when divers approach. 

How do you take photo of garden eels?

Because they are so shy, it is very tricky to take photos of Garden eels. Some photographers had successful shots by holding their breath long enough… other use a remote control to get the close-up shots.
The photo below is from Pete Atkinson. When asked how he did it he answered: Habituation, patience and breath-holding: I lay on the sand and inched my way closer over about 30 mins. I would hold my breath whenever they appeared so I didn't scare them. Eventually they were so familiar with me being there they came out far enough for a few pictures. I was using a 105mm micro lens on a Nikon F4, with flash. When I breathed out they disappeared into their holes. You might be able to do this more easily with a rebreather…
Field of garden eels swaying with currents
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Enter the circus of the amazing clownfish family !

6/8/2021

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The Clownfish family, who are they ?
The Clown fish is an Anemone fish, a specialized type of damselfish. 
​The first magic trick that the clownfish is able to perform is its venom immunity:  they have a special symbiosis relationship with their host anemone. Together, they realize, for your greatest pleasure, what is called a “symbiosis relationship”. Since the eggs are laid directly under its skirt, anemone fishes are immune to anemone's stingy tentacles from day 1. It is a mutually beneficial relationship in which the anemone can feed from the fish dejection while the fish gets shelter from lurking predators.
Clown fish and their anemone
Clown fish
But the highlight of the show is probably its "transgender ability". All clownfish are born male with one female surrounded by a harem of smaller males. When the female leaves the group or dies, the larger male fish will become a female. Spoiler for the next episode: Nemo will never be able to have a little sister.

True Clownfish (Amphiprion percula) and False Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris)

False clown fish are actually the most common and well known clownfish and believe it or not but Nemo, the pixar animation's star, is not the real deal, he is a false Clownfish!
​It is actually very difficult to differentiate the true from the  False Clownfish, both are bright orange with white bands separated by black lines (which are slightly thinner in the false clownfish). 
Both species can be found in the Andaman Sea of Thailand.
true clowfish (Amphiprion percula)
True clowfish
Clown fish couple
False Clown fish = Nemo

Saddle anemonefish, aka Tomato Clownfish - Amphiprion ephippium

Tomato clown fishes have an orange-red color and A. frenatus have a white vertical stripe behind the eye when they are young. The band disappears when they age and only black specks remain when they turn to females.​ There are several types of Tomato clownfish. Amphiprion ephippium, commonly known as Saddle anemonefish, is a medium-sized (5-10cm) anemonefish from the Tomato complex more common whendiving Myanmar.
tomato clownfish in tomatoe anemone
Clown fish in the reef
Female tomato clownfish

Clark's Clownfish - Amphiprion clarkii

Clarks anemonefish are very distinct in look to the other anemonefish. They are a lot darker in colour with two white lines contrasted by an orange face, tail and fins.
I love clarks because they usually hover quite high over their anemone which make them easy to spot and also because they often live with anemone crabs.
Picture
Picture

Skunk Clownfish - Amphiprion akallopisos

Also quite easy to identify, the Skunk Clownfish is one of the smallest anemonefish (11cm) with a white band all along its back.
Picture

Where can you see Clownfishes and anemonefishes

Habitat :Clownfish are found in the Pacific and the Andaman Sea. Different clownfish favour different anemone types. Tomato clownfish like the pretty orange bubble tip anemone while it is more common to find the clark anemonefish in the shorter carpet like anemone.
Picture

What do clownfish eat?

Clownfish are omnivorous. They feed mainly on filamentous algae, planktonic copepods and benthic crustaceans.
Reproduction 
When a female is ready to mate, the male will perform a courtship and the female will deposit 400 to 1,000 eggs on the rock next or under their anemone host. The male will immediately pass over the patch to fertilize the eggs and the couple will then protect them until they hatch, in about 6 to 11 days. Babies clownfish will then drift with the current until they are big enough to swim and find an anemone to settle in.
clark's anemonefish mama tending to her offsprings
clark's anemonefish mama tending to her offsprings
Clownfish babies
Clownfish babies still in their eggs
Did you like this article ? Share It !
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And fee free to read some more fun facts about the Andaman Sea inhabitants on our blog !
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  • When & Where
    • Schedule and Prices
    • Destinations >
      • North Andaman Thailand >
        • Similan Islands
        • Surin Islands >
          • Richelieu Rock
        • The essential Underwater photo Guide to diving Thailand
      • South Andaman Thailand >
        • Phuket & Koh Phi Phi National Parks
        • Koh Lanta National Park
        • Koh Lipe and Tarutao National Park
      • Mergui Archipelago >
        • Liveaboard diving holiday in Myanmar
        • Burma's best dive sites
        • The Ultimate Underwater photo Guide to diving Burma
  • ABOUT
    • Our Boat >
      • DELICIOUS FOOD
    • Diving in Thailand in 2024-2025
    • Diving in Myanmar/Burma in 2024-2025
    • Blackwater diving in Thailand and Myannmar
    • Marine life in Thailand's Andaman Sea
    • Marine life in Mergui Archipelago
    • Dive Courses >
      • Learn to Dive
      • Continue diving education
      • Rescue diver
      • Professional Dive Courses
      • Hone your dive skills with a specialty course
      • Photo coaching in Thailand on the Smiling Seahorse
    • Guest Book
    • FAQ
  • Plan your trip
    • Our hotels recommendations
    • Khao Sok National Park
    • Taxi services >
      • Taxi services to and from Ranong
      • Taxi services to and from Phuket
      • Taxi services to Tap Lamu and Khao Lak
    • 10 things to do around Ranong
  • PROMO
    • HOT DEALS
    • Special Expeditions >
      • 8D Special Marine Bio with Gavin Miller - 10 Nov 2025
      • 8D Whale shark expedition - 20 March 2026 - North and South
  • gallery
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • CONTACT
  • BLOG
    • Most popular posts