Peacock Gudgeon

Tateurndina ocellicauda

Also known as: Peacock goby, Gudgeon

Water Parameters

• Temperature: 22–26°C
• pH: 6.5–7.5
• Hardness (GH): 89–214 ppm (5–12 dGH)

Values above are general hardness (GH). For carbonate hardness (KH), the buffer that keeps pH stable, see the water parameters guide.

Care Summary

A small, jewel-like fish from the streams of Papua New Guinea, often assumed to be Australian because of the gudgeon name (the true local equivalent is the empire gudgeon). Whatever its origin, it is one of the most beautiful nano fish in the trade: a pale blue-green body scattered with red dashes, yellow-edged fins, and a distinctive dark eye-spot near the tail. Peacefully territorial, undemanding once settled, and a cave-spawner whose males guard the eggs, peacock gudgeons reward a planted, mature nano tank with calm tankmates and a varied, meaty diet. They are slow, deliberate feeders that prefer live or frozen food and can be outcompeted by quicker fish, which is the main thing to manage. An understated, characterful centrepiece for a small community.

Tankmates

A peaceful, beautiful nano fish that hovers near the substrate and among plants and caves. Males are larger and more colourful, with a forehead hump and trailing fins, and they display to one another and to females without serious harm, so a small group of four or more (ideally with more females than males) shows the best behaviour. Gentle and slow, they are easily outcompeted at feeding by fast tankmates, so pair them with calm, similarly-sized community fish rather than boisterous schoolers. As micropredators they will eat newly-hatched shrimp and may pick at very small adult shrimp, so they are not ideal for a breeding shrimp colony. They prefer live and frozen foods, but most specimens learn to take quality prepared food.

Compatible with

• Celestial Pearl Danio
• Ember Tetra
• Harlequin Rasbora
• Pygmy Corydoras
• Otocinclus
• Kuhli Loach

Avoid keeping with

• Betta
• Angelfish
• Large Cichlids
• Fin Nippers

Common Problems

• being outcompeted at feeding by faster tankmates
• preference for live or frozen food over dry
• predation on shrimp fry
• males sparring in tanks without enough cover

Sources: seriouslyfish.com, fishbase.org · Last updated: 2026-06-20