Species description

Care, breeding and tankmates

Fish profile

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

They possess a peaceful, inquisitive, and somewhat shy temperament. They are not aggressive towards other species but can be mildly territorial among themselves when claiming breeding caves. Once settled in a well-planted tank, they become bold and will frequently hover in the open. They are deliberate and methodical in their movements.

Diet

Omnivore

They are micropredators that heavily favor meaty foods over dry flakes. Their diet should consist mainly of frozen and live foods like bloodworms, daphnia, brine shrimp, and mosquito larvae. Some individuals can be coaxed into eating high-quality micro-pellets, but live/frozen food is mandatory for breeding. A high-protein diet is essential to maintain their brilliant coloration.

Sex ratio

Harem

They can be kept in pairs, but a harem of one male to two or three females is often ideal. Males can be slightly territorial with one another in small tanks, but serious injuries are rare. Females are easily distinguished by their yellow bellies and more streamlined head shape. Keeping a small group allows for fascinating courtship displays.

Feeding frequency

Twice daily

Feed them small meals one to two times daily. They are deliberate, somewhat slow eaters that hover and inspect their food before striking. Care must be taken to ensure that faster tankmates don't consume all the food before the gudgeons can get to it. Target feeding with a pipette is often a helpful strategy.

Bioload

The Peacock Gudgeon is a small, peaceful fish that produces a low bioload. They are excellent candidates for small, heavily planted aquariums. Standard filtration is more than enough to handle their waste, provided regular maintenance is observed. Excellent water quality is required to prevent stress and diseases like fin rot.

Flow

Stagnant

They originate from slow-moving streams and ponds, requiring gentle water flow. Strong currents will batter them and cause severe stress, forcing them to hide constantly. A sponge filter or a baffled hang-on-back filter is the best choice for their environment. The tank should feature calm, quiet areas heavily shaded by plants.

Reproduction

Oviparous

They are cave spawners, readily breeding in PVC pipes. The male entices the female into his chosen cave, where she lays adhesive eggs on the ceiling. The male then vigorously guards the eggs and fans them with his pectoral fins until they hatch. Once the fry become free-swimming, the male's parental care ends, and the fry need microscopic foods like infusoria.

Compatibility & tankmates

They are highly peaceful and do well with other small, gentle community fish. Good tankmates include dwarf rasboras, small tetras, Corydoras, and Otocinclus. They are generally safe with adult dwarf shrimp, though they may prey on newborn shrimplets. Fast, aggressive, or fin-nipping species should be strictly avoided to prevent them from becoming withdrawn.

Tank level

Middle/Bottom

They utilize the lower to middle levels of the water column. They love to hover motionless just above the substrate or among dense plant leaves. They require plenty of hiding spaces created by rocks, driftwood, and thick vegetation. They rarely swim actively near the surface.