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Peacock Gudgeon
Tateurndina ocellicauda
Animalia›Chordata›Actinopterygii›Eleotridae
📍 Papua New Guinea
A stunningly colourful nano fish with an electric blue body, red-orange bars, and a distinctive eyespot on the tail. Males develop an enlarged, rounded head. Peaceful cave spawners that breed readily in planted tanks with coconut shell hides.
Care Guide
Diet
Peacock Gudgeons are carnivorous and require live or frozen foods as their primary diet. Offer small live foods such as brine shrimp, daphnia, and bloodworms once daily in small portions. High-quality micro pellets can supplement their diet, but live foods are essential for optimal coloration and health.
Behavior
These are peaceful, bottom-dwelling fish that spend much of their time exploring the substrate and mid-water areas. They are relatively shy and benefit from plenty of hiding spots and low lighting. Males may display territorial behavior toward each other, so they should be kept in pairs or small groups with adequate space and visual barriers.
Breeding
Peacock Gudgeons are moderately easy to breed in captivity compared to many fish species. They require small caves or PVC tubes as spawning sites, slightly acidic water (pH 6.5-7.0), and temperatures around 26-28°C. Males guard eggs and fry; remove the female after spawning to prevent aggression, and feed fry infusoria or liquid fry food initially.
Tank Mates
Peaceful algae eaters with similar water requirements and non-aggressive behavior
Small, peaceful schooling fish that occupy upper water column and won't compete for food
Peaceful invertebrates that occupy different ecological niches; avoid very small fry
Hardy plant that provides shelter and won't be uprooted by gentle gudgeons
Common Diseases
Ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis)
White spots on body and fins, rapid breathing, lethargy, rubbing against objects
Raise temperature gradually to 28-30°C, perform daily 25% water changes, use aquarium salt or ich medication; treat for 7-10 days
Fin Rot
Frayed or deteriorating fins, discoloration at fin edges, lethargy
Improve water quality with frequent changes, reduce stress, use antibacterial medication if severe; ensure good filtration
Parasitic Infections
Excessive scratching, visible parasites, weight loss, clamped fins
Use anti-parasitic medication, quarantine affected fish, maintain pristine water conditions and increase aeration
Bacterial Infection
Cloudy eyes, open sores, loss of appetite, color fading
Perform large water changes, use broad-spectrum antibiotic medication, isolate in quarantine tank if possible
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Quick Facts
- diet
- Omnivore – micro pellets, frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp
- lifespan
- 4–5 years
- max size
- 7 cm (2.8 in)
- tank size
- 10 gallons minimum
- temperament
- Peaceful
Water it likes
- ph
- 6.5–7.5
- ammonia
- 0 ppm
- nitrate
- <20 ppm
- hardness
- 5–12 dGH
- temperature
- 72–79°F (22–26°C)