as a planet forward mystic aquarium fellow, one of my favorite places to visit was the milne ocean science and conservation center’s rehabilitation unit. there, aquatic creatures call this space a temporary home while receiving world-class care and attention.

throughout the summer, i had the pleasure of meeting a wide variety of animals being looked after by the teams at mystic. the milne center also housed our intern office, where my co-fellow and i spent time editing stories between field shoots. for me personally, the rehabilitation space became a quiet place of both curiosity and wonder.

one section of the building is dedicated to newly arrived animals quarantining before joining one of their new mystic homes. 

hidden in plain sight

it was on one special tuesday that i wandered into the room and noticed what looked like an empty habitat — just crystal clear water and fine white sand.

i thought, “is there even anything in here?”

just as my impatience almost made me walk away, a tiny stalk-like creature popped out. at first, i saw only their heads — a pale greenish color with big black-and-yellow eyes. then i noticed others joining the staring contest. some hovered close to the sand’s surface, while others stretched a little farther. slowly, they revealed long, thin bodies covered in delicate black spots.

i was mesmerized. once my eyes adjusted, i realized more than 20 were peeking out at once. 

tiny eels are important for reef systems

a quick chat with the fish and invertebrate team confirmed what i was witnessing: a new colony of spotted garden eels. i was told this species was known for being very skittish, so i stood still to get the best look of them.

native to the sandy slopes of the indo-pacific, spotted garden eels (heteroconger hassi) offer a fascinating glimpse into reef system resilience. they’re known for their distinct burrowing behavior — and, in my professional media intern opinion, they’re just adorable.

naturally, i grabbed my camera and tried to capture the quiet magic of this moment. i thought their unusual look would make for a great video story highlighting the importance of these tiny reef animals.

in the video above, you’ll find zany close-up footage along with five fast facts about this small but mighty species.

the planet forward mystic aquarium fellowship program was made possible with support by michael lech, david freeman, and the berl brechner fund.