Photo: Dirk Godlinski (CC BY-SA 3.0) — via Wikimedia Commons
Peacock Gudgeon (Tateurndina ocellicauda)
A jewel-sized gudgeon from Papua New Guinea that packs spectacular neon colour into a nano-friendly, cave-breeding package.
Will it live with a Peacock Gudgeon?
We compare each fish against your peacock gudgeon on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- Agassiz's Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Agassiz's Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Bamboo Shrimp✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Betta✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 6.5 cm · Easy care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Black Kuhli Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Black Skirt Tetra✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Black Skirt Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Blackline Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Blackline Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Blood Red Tiger Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Medium care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Bolivian Ram✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Butterfly Hillstream Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Hard care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Celebes Rainbowfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Celebes Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Corydoras Catfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6.5 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Costa's Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Costa's Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Croaking Gourami✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Desert Goby✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Diamond Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Diamond Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Eastern Betta✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Elegant Cory✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Elegant Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Gold Barb✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7.5 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Gold Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Peppered Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Peppered Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlid✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Splashing Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Splashing Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Spotfin Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6.5 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Spotfin Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Spotted Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Spotted Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Sterbai Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6.5 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Sterbai Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- African Butterfly Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- African Butterfly Cichlid and Peacock Gudgeon are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add peacock gudgeon in a group to spread the pressure.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Amazon Puffer⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~120 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Amazon Puffer in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Ash Lipped Apisto⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Ash Lipped Apisto is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Peacock Gudgeon — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Banded Dwarf Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Banded Dwarf Cichlid and Peacock Gudgeon are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add peacock gudgeon in a group to spread the pressure.
- Bleeding Heart Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Bleeding Heart Tetra and Peacock Gudgeon are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add peacock gudgeon in a group to spread the pressure.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bleeding Heart Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Bright Diamond Tetra⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 7 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bright Diamond Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Buenos Aires Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Buenos Aires Tetra is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Peacock Gudgeon — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Buenos Aires Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Colombian Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6.5 cm · Easy care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~114 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Colombian Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Expect Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid to harass Peacock Gudgeon at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Mahachai Betta⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Mahachai Betta and Peacock Gudgeon are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add peacock gudgeon in a group to spread the pressure.
- Melon Barb⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Melon Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Rounded Filament Barb⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 7 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Rounded Filament Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Roundtail Paradise Fish⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Easy care · 10–26 °C (50–79 °F)
- Expect Roundtail Paradise Fish to harass Peacock Gudgeon at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Sumo Loach⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Sumo Loach and Peacock Gudgeon are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add peacock gudgeon in a group to spread the pressure.
- Tiger Barb⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Tiger Barb is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Peacock Gudgeon — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~95 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Tiger Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid and Peacock Gudgeon are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add peacock gudgeon in a group to spread the pressure.
- Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Alligator Gar (250 cm) is big enough to swallow the 7 cm Peacock Gudgeon whole.
- Alligator Gar is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Peacock Gudgeon — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Clown Knifefish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Size gap is too large (90 vs 7 cm): Clown Knifefish will treat Peacock Gudgeon as food.
- Expect Clown Knifefish to harass Peacock Gudgeon at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Fire Eel⛔ Not recommendedSemi-aggressive · 100 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Fire Eel (100 cm) is big enough to swallow the 7 cm Peacock Gudgeon whole.
- Fire Eel clearly outsizes Peacock Gudgeon and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Koi⛔ Not recommendedPeaceful · 90 cm · Medium care · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
- Peacock Gudgeon is bite-sized to a 90 cm koi — it will be eaten.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Redtail Catfish (120 cm) is big enough to swallow the 7 cm Peacock Gudgeon whole.
- Redtail Catfish clearly outsizes Peacock Gudgeon and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Spotted Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Spotted Gar (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 7 cm Peacock Gudgeon whole.
- Spotted Gar clearly outsizes Peacock Gudgeon and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Wels Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
- Peacock Gudgeon is bite-sized to a 300 cm predatory wels catfish — it will be eaten.
- Wels Catfish is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Peacock Gudgeon — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Wolf Cichlid⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 72 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Size gap is too large (72 vs 7 cm): Wolf Cichlid will treat Peacock Gudgeon as food.
- Wolf Cichlid is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Peacock Gudgeon — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~760 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
Compatibility is computed from each species' care data — a strong starting point, not a guarantee. Individual temperament varies, so always introduce new fish slowly and watch them.
Peacock Gudgeon care specs
- Care level
- Medium
- Breeding
- Easy
- Max size
- 7 cm (2.8 in)
- Min tank size
- 60 L (15.9 gal)
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- Hardness
- 2–12 dGH
- Lifespan
- 3–5 years
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Swim level
- Middle
- Group size
- 4+ (shoaling)
- Family
- Eleotridae
- Origin
- Papua New Guinea — slow-moving lowland streams and pools
What is a Peacock Gudgeon?
The Peacock Gudgeon (Tateurndina ocellicauda) is a small, strikingly coloured sleeper gudgeon native to Papua New Guinea. It reaches about 7 cm (2.75 in), making it one of the most vividly patterned nano-compatible fish available in the freshwater hobby. The blue-grey body is overlaid with red vertical bars, the belly glows yellow, and a bold black eyespot at the tail base gives the species its name. Males develop a characteristic knob-like hump on the forehead as they mature.
Despite its reef-fish looks, this is a true freshwater species that thrives in a soft, slightly acidic community tank. It belongs to the family Eleotridae — the sleeper gudgeons — rather than the true goby family Gobiidae, though the two groups look superficially similar. Most fish available in the hobby are captive-bred, which has made the Peacock Gudgeon more adaptable, but it still rewards keepers who take the time to replicate the warm, soft-water conditions of its homeland.
Where do Peacock Gudgeons come from?
Wild Peacock Gudgeons are endemic to Papua New Guinea, where they inhabit slow-moving lowland streams, quiet pools, and seasonally flooded grasslands. The water in these habitats is warm, soft, and often stained amber by tannins leaching from leaf litter and submerged wood. Overhanging vegetation provides shade and surface cover, while the substrate is typically fine sand or silt with accumulated organic debris, including the natural crevices and hollow spaces the fish use for shelter and spawning.
Because wild populations occupy a relatively small geographic range, most Peacock Gudgeons in the trade are captive-bred. This has narrowed the gap between wild and tap-water conditions for captive stock, but fish still fare best in soft, slightly acidic water in the lower half of their accepted pH range (6.5–7.5) rather than in hard, alkaline conditions.
What size tank does a Peacock Gudgeon need?
The practical minimum is 60 litres (16 gallons) for a small group. Because the species is schooling and requires a minimum group of four, a single-specimen setup is not appropriate — and a larger group in too small a tank leads to persistent squabbling among males. For a group of four to six fish, 60–80 L (16–21 gal) with a footprint of at least 60 cm (24 in) is workable; going up to 100–120 L (26–32 gal) gives males more territory and usually produces calmer, better-coloured fish.
Aquascape with a mix of open swimming space in the middle (their preferred zone) and dense planting or rockwork at the sides and back. Provide several small caves — commercially sold terracotta or ceramic caves work well, as do sections of PVC pipe and coconut halves — because the species is a cavity breeder and both sexes use caves as retreats. A tightly fitting lid is worthwhile; Peacock Gudgeons can jump when startled. Keep flow gentle; a sponge filter or a canister with a spray bar diffuser suits them well.
What water parameters do Peacock Gudgeons need?
- Temperature: 22–28 °C (72–82 °F). A stable mid-range around 24–26 °C (75–79 °F) is ideal for both long-term health and conditioning for breeding.
- pH: 6.5–7.5. Soft to neutral water is preferred; hard alkaline tap water should be buffered down or blended with RO water.
- Hardness: 2–12 dGH. Soft water is closer to the natural habitat, but captive-bred stock tolerates moderate hardness well.
- Ammonia / nitrite: 0 ppm. Peacock Gudgeons are more sensitive to nitrogen waste than some hardier species; a fully cycled tank is non-negotiable.
Stability matters more than perfect numbers on any single parameter. Weekly water changes of 25–30 % keep nitrates low and the fish in peak colour. Adding a small amount of dried Indian almond leaf or a piece of driftwood to tint the water softly acidic is beneficial and enhances the fish’s natural colours — it is not strictly required but produces noticeably better results.
What do Peacock Gudgeons eat?
Peacock Gudgeons are carnivores that hunt small invertebrates in the wild. In the aquarium they accept a range of small meaty foods, but many individuals are reluctant to take dry foods initially and do best when introduced to live or frozen alternatives first.
Good staples include:
- Frozen or live foods: bloodworms, daphnia, brine shrimp, micro-worms, and tubifex (use sparingly due to the disease-transmission risk with tubifex).
- Dry foods: small-particle carnivore pellets or high-protein micro-pellets once the fish are established and feeding confidently.
Feed small amounts once or twice daily — whatever the fish consume within two to three minutes. Peacock Gudgeons have small mouths relative to their body size, so food particle size matters; large pellets will be ignored or spat out. Variety is important for condition, especially when preparing fish for breeding.
Are Peacock Gudgeons peaceful — and what fish can live with them?
Peacock Gudgeons are peaceful with fish they cannot eat, making them excellent community fish for a species-appropriate setup. Between males of the same species, there can be low-level territorial rivalry, especially over caves, but genuine aggression is rare in a roomy tank with multiple hides. Keeping a ratio of one male to two females helps distribute attention and reduces tension.
They are best paired with similarly sized, calm fish that occupy different tank zones. Good companions include:
- Small rasboras and danios (surface to mid-water)
- Pygmy corydoras and other small bottom-dwellers
- Freshwater gobies of similar size
- Kuhli loaches (bottom zone)
- Otocinclus (algae-grazing bottom level)
Avoid large or boisterous fish that will outcompete them at feeding, and avoid fin-nippers such as tiger barbs. As noted in the FAQ, shrimp compatibility is species-dependent: large Amano shrimp are usually safe, but dwarf shrimp such as cherry shrimp are at risk from adult Peacock Gudgeons.
For a full filterable list of what works and what doesn’t, see Peacock Gudgeon tank mates.
How do you tell male from female Peacock Gudgeons?
Sexing adult Peacock Gudgeons is relatively straightforward. Males are larger, reaching the full 7 cm (2.75 in) potential, and develop a distinctive nuchal hump — a fleshy knob on the forehead that becomes more pronounced with age and good conditioning. Males also carry brighter, more saturated colouration, with more vivid red barring and more intense blue-grey flanks.
Females are smaller and slimmer, lacking the nuchal hump. Their yellow belly is actually a reliable identification feature — the females retain a notably bright yellow abdomen, which can appear even more vivid than on males. When gravid, females become visibly rounded through the belly and display an intensified yellow colouration that signals readiness to spawn.
Young fish are difficult to sex reliably before three to four months of age; the nuchal hump is the clearest indicator in older individuals.
How do Peacock Gudgeons breed?
Peacock Gudgeons are cave spawners, and breeding them is rated easy by aquarium standards — one of the more accessible breeding projects in the freshwater hobby. A healthy, well-conditioned group in a stable tank will often spawn without any special intervention.
Triggering spawning: Condition the adults on varied live and frozen foods for two to three weeks. A small water change with slightly cooler water (dropping 1–2 °C) can simulate a seasonal cue and prompt spawning activity. Males will actively court females at the entrance to a chosen cave, displaying intensified colour and the nuchal hump prominently.
The spawn: The female deposits eggs inside the cave, where they adhere to the roof or walls. The male guards and fans the eggs until they hatch — typically within five to seven days depending on temperature. He can be left to guard without removal in a peaceful tank, but if other fish are interfering, a small breeding container or separate tank improves hatch rates.
Raising fry: Free-swimming fry are tiny and require infusoria or commercial fry foods for the first week, transitioning to micro-worms and freshly hatched brine shrimp nauplii as they grow. Water quality management is critical at this stage; small, frequent water changes prevent ammonia spikes without disturbing the fry.
What are common Peacock Gudgeon diseases?
Peacock Gudgeons are susceptible to the diseases common across most freshwater fish, and their slightly elevated sensitivity to water-quality deterioration means that prevention through good husbandry is especially important.
Common issues to watch for:
- Ich (white spot): Tiny white grains on the body and fins, caused by Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. Triggered by chilling or stress. Stable temperature within the 22–28 °C range is the best prevention.
- Velvet (oodinium): A dusty gold or rust-coloured sheen on the flanks. Often arrives with new fish; quarantine all additions for two to four weeks before introducing them to an established tank.
- Fin rot: Fraying or receding fins — almost always a water-quality problem. Fix the water before addressing symptoms.
- Internal parasites: Wild-caught fish occasionally carry internal parasites; captive-bred stock is far less susceptible. Quarantine and observation resolve most concerns.
- Bloat / digestive issues: Overfeeding or exclusively feeding low-quality dry foods. Vary the diet and include regular live or frozen items.
Health note: medication dosing and disease diagnosis are beyond the scope of a care profile. For a sick fish, confirm symptoms against a reputable veterinary or aquatic-health source and quarantine before any treatment to protect tankmates.
How long do Peacock Gudgeons live?
With good care, Peacock Gudgeons live 3–5 years. This is respectable for a fish of their small size, and it means a well-maintained group can be a stable, productive part of a community tank for several years rather than a short-lived novelty. The keys to reaching the upper end of that range are consistent water quality, a varied carnivore diet, a stable temperature in the mid-range of 22–28 °C (72–82 °F), and a low-stress environment with adequate caves and shelter. Fish that are kept in poor conditions or crowded without adequate hides tend to colour down, stop breeding, and live noticeably shorter lives.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Peacock Gudgeon actually a goby?
No — despite the common nickname 'peacock goby', it belongs to family Eleotridae (sleeper gudgeons), not the true goby family Gobiidae. The care requirements are the same regardless of the label: small, peaceful, and cave-breeding.
Can I keep Peacock Gudgeons with shrimp?
With caution. Adults will readily eat dwarf shrimp such as cherry shrimp. Amano shrimp and other large-bodied shrimp are safer, and dense planting gives small shrimp places to hide. For a shrimp-safe setup, stick to invertebrates too large to swallow.
What you need to keep a peacock gudgeon
The baseline is a heated, filtered 60 L+ tank: a reliable heater to hold 22–28 °C (72–82 °F), a gentle filter that won't batter a peacock gudgeon in the current, and a tight-fitting lid. Cycle the tank fully before adding any fish.
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