Garden eels live in colonies, with each eel creating and maintaining its own burrow for protection. They reinforce their burrows with mucus to prevent them from collapsing. They can grow up to 16 inches in length, but garden eels rarely venture far from their burrows, making them appear much smaller. They position themselves in the opposite direction of the current so they can catch prey as it floats by.
You can learn more about the Yellow Garden Eels in our Eckstein Family Rivers to the Sea exhibit located inside of the Diamond Jo National River Center.