Peacock Gudgeon Care: Tank Size, Food, Lifespan, Tank Mates…

Peacock Gudgeon care

Peacock Gudgeons are exquisite fishes that must be present on your radar if you are an aquarist. The Peacock Gudgeons come in vibrant colors and do not require much of your attention. They are the perfect fishes for community fish tanks for the same reason.

In addition, they are not at all aggressive and farewell with almost all the conditions. They are also exceptionally social, which means that they will never be the reason for hampering the harmony of your fish tank. If you are looking forward to getting a peacock gudgeon for yourself, you must read this Peacock Gudgeon care guide till the end so that you can make an informed decision regarding the same.

An Overview Of The Species

The scientific name for Peacock Gudgeons is Tateurndina ocellicauda, Sometimes called Peacock Goby, prominently found in the fresh waters of Papua New Guinea, which are not too deep. You can also find their species in Australia and New Zealand as a subsidiary source.

Peacock Gudgeons have stolen the spotlight from all the other fishes owing to their beautiful and colossal characteristics. There is a high demand for them amongst the buyers. However, most of the fishes that you will find in the market are not sourced from freshwaters. They are bred in a coveted fashion, which can be easily identified through some evident features.

These fishes are a worthy addition to public fish tanks because of their less maintenance. You need to ensure a basic routine, and these fishes will never become a cause for chaos.


If we keep the dynamism on hold, the average lifespan of Peacock Gudgeons estimates to around five years. This is the case when they are held captive but are provided with reasonable care.

There are many other freshwater species that can survive for a longer duration of time, but these fishes enhance the vibe of your fish tank. They are super active and are always willing to interact with the people who are watching them. They might not dwell in the tank for longer durations but will make every second of their presence count.

How Do They Look? (Appearance)

As mentioned before, Peacock Gudgeons are potent enough to out shadow all the other freshwater fishes that are present in the tank. They have long and lean bodies that help them to swim freely in the vast expanses of water. They also have rounded heads, which are enhanced by the presence of a nuchal hump in the case of male gudgeons.

The body color of this species is their primary source of attraction. All of them have different minor quirks while maintaining a steady color stream. Some of the gudgeons have subtle color shades, while some can go dazzling with shades like electric blue. Their stomach area is usually the same hue shade of yellow color.

Their belly’s color is accentuated by the presence of red-colored dots that run laterally in stripe formation. You will also observe a similar pattern on their fins which adds uniformity to their overall demeanor. The presence of this color combination adds to their overall aesthetic.

However, none of these features are responsible for their sobriquet except for the black spot that is present at the base of their slender bodies. This spot is called the eyespot, and if you observe it closely, you will see the resemblance it shares with a peacock.

There are evident distinctions between male and female gudgeons. While males tend to be a bit bigger, the females have more vibrant color combinations. The males also have the nuchal hump that acts as a clear point of distinction.


Peacock gudgeons are not that big when it comes to size. The males usually grow up to 3 inches, whereas females stop around half an inch before the males. They take almost six to eight months to attain this level of maturity, post which they grow a bit more. Some fishes may take more time if they have a distinct genetic arrangement.

Peacock Gudgeon Care

Now that you are all set with the preliminary knowledge of Peacock Gudgeons, you can finally decide on bringing one home. However, there are some essential things that you have to keep in mind before you actually make a move.

The care routine of this species is nothing as compared to other fishes. But this quirk does not give you the free pass to put them in any prevailing condition. You will have to ensure a very neutral and stable environment so that your fishes can live safely without compromising their health.

Tank Size

Since you are already aware of the size of Peacock Goby, you can easily deduce that these fishes do not need a gigantic tank. You can opt for a smaller tank. Gudgeons are not fond of much swimming either, which allows you to fill the tank with decorations.

The minimum tank size we recommend for the Peacock Gudgeon is 15-gallon tank. As you keep on increasing the number of fishes, the size of the tank increases relatively. An essential thing to keep in mind is that you should always prefer buying a bigger tank rather than crowding your fishes in a smaller one. Some people make the mistake of purchasing a ten-gallon tank which troubles them after a few years down the line.

Water Specifications

If you want to ensure the best possible conditions for your peacock gudgeons, try to replicate their natural habitat to the fullest extent. As mentioned previously, gudgeons are usually found in shallow water areas which are not fast-moving. Their ponds typically have a lot of vegetation which keeps the whole thing filled. You could try to do that by adding elements to their fish tank. Some of the other technical specifications are:

  • Water Temperature: 72°F to 79°F (22.2-26.1°C)
  • pH levels: 6 to 7.8 ph ( 7 acts as a great middle-ground)
  • Water Hardness: 5-12 dKH

What To Include In Their Tank

In order to replicate their habitat, you should be aware of the intricacies of their existing habitat. Peacock gudgeons are highly comfortable around vegetation. They are happier, and they have less space to cover while swimming under these conditions.

There is a gigantic variety of hardy plants, including Java Ferns and Anubias, that you can consider putting inside your fish tank. They will enhance the experience of your fishes and will also add to the overall aesthetics of the tank.

These plants serve an additional benefit for fishes that is very hard to interpret. They tend to act as safe zones where these fishes hide during times of distress for them. It is a very intriguing sight, but you will actually see them moving behind these plants on certain specific cues. In general, when this is not happening, the fishes hover around the leaves of the plant to play with other fishes. You must ensure that you get high-quality, hardy plants so that your gudgeons are not able to damage them. There are many varieties of these plants, and any mediocre label will be more than enough for your tank.

You can also include a few rocks and driftwood to increase the excitement for your fishes. The presence of these things will give them a more detailed layout to explore and will keep them happy and busy. You can also choose sand to cover the base as it is the closest it can get to a shallow freshwater area. There is no limit to decorating your tank. You can incorporate almost anything until your pocket supports it heartily.

Filtration And Water Flow

Any filter will work for these fishes as they do not have a very rigid requirement when it comes to filtration. The filter must be potent enough to cover a complete cycle of the tank while maintaining optimum levels of nitrates. The output of the filter is the only element that is worthy of gauging your attention.

As you have read, the swimming experience of Peacock Goby is minimal, and therefore, their skills are not as sharpened as other freshwater fishes. You will have to restrict the flow of output water to the least possible strength so that your fishes can survive without a constant threat.

Breaking the flow of constant current is a great option that you can exercise. There are many ways to do it, like obstructing it with a decorative item or facing it towards the glass. This move will ensure a restricted flow to keep things away from chaos.

Common Possible Diseases

Gudgeons are prone to the same common diseases as the other freshwater fishes. They do not have any particular threats that call for your undivided attention. One of the most common issues that can arise is called Ich.

When the water tank is contaminated, all the fishes tend to give in to this parasite. The only way to evade it is by ensuring that your tank is clean and the filter is working correctly. The treatment of Ich involves seclusion from other fishes and medicines made of copper. The disease is contagious, and therefore you must keep the infected one away. As it is said, one sick fish can make all the fishes sick.

Another prominent ailment that can attack your peacock gudgeons is called the hole in the head disease. This disease is transmitted through the excretion of the fishes and can cause visible cavities and sores on the head of these fishes. This disease multiplies quickly if the tank is not kept sanitized.

There are many other bacterial infections that can infect your fishes. These conditions cause irritation in the entire body, and the only way to get relief is to rub the sore spots. Your decorations will come in handy at this point when the fishes will be looking for surfaces to rub their body.

Food & Diet

The preference for peacock gudgeons falls in the domain of protein-rich live subjects. They are very particular when it comes to their diet, and therefore you will have to pay special attention to that. In their natural habitat, gudgeons survive off the tiny insects and larvae that they find in the shallow waters.

You can opt for live snacks to give them an identical diet. Frozen foods and dry foods also have a reasonable conversion rate as food for these fishes. There are many live options like bloodworms available, and therefore, you will not face a tough time finding these supplements. These live foods will increase their quality of life, and their body colors will get colossal with a proper diet.

How Do They Behave In General?

If your tank is decorated well, your fishes will be very well behaved because they will be busy and happy. They tend to secure an ecosystem for themselves, and that is one of the best features of peacock gudgeons.

However, it would help if you tried to keep them in a group of around 5 to 7 fishes so that they can interact with each other. Getting a single gudgeon might not be the best idea. There might be instances where you will find a slight peck of aggression between the male species but those quarrels are momentary and do not impact their overall bonding.

Tank Mates

In the case of a fish tank, you will be looking forward to inhabiting a lot of different fishes to enhance the visual imagery. Peacock gudgeons are incredibly social, and they do not face a problem in interacting with other fishes.

The only thing you have to keep in mind is the size of other fishes. In the case of a community tank, the mix is not filtered, and therefore you should look out for species that are not strong enough to devour your peacock gudgeons. A good big tank will also minimize this stance from becoming a possibility.

Here is a list of some fishes that have the maximum compatibility with Peacock Gudgeons.

Peacock Gudgeon Breeding

The breeding for peacock gudgeons is as simple as their overall care. They tend to form a pair for breeding, and these pairs can be identified without breaking a sweat. It is always better to move these pairs to separate tanks so that the breeding process can be carried out effectively and safely.

Your fishes will also need a safe and secure place to breed. You can go forth with installing a cave that can be easily created using PVC pipes or any other sturdy substance. This measure will give them an ample amount of privacy and will also speed up the whole process.

In order to start this process, you will have to introduce a fresh change of water. The next step will be to provide your gudgeons with the previously mentioned protein-rich food so that they can be prepared for breeding. Once your male fishes are well fed, they will be ready to breed.

They will start hovering around the cave and will also display their pectoral fins so that the females can get the right cue to move. The male fishes get very pumped up, and they start identifying the females to make a pair.

If the female is also interested in breeding, she will follow the male inside the cavity to conduct the breeding process. The output of this will result in around 50-100 fresh eggs. After laying the eggs, it is unlikely for the female to return back to the cave.

The male gudgeons take complete charge of these eggs by fertilizing them and guarding them against the other fishes. These eggs take around ten days to hatch post which they enter the atmosphere of the tank. Most male fishes do not stick around for longer durations so that the baby fishes get strong enough to take care of their own selves.

These baby fishes grow at a languid pace, and therefore, you will have to ensure that they get proper food in a powdered way. You should also look out for their safety as baby gudgeons are very weak and are not sharp enough to swim away from the bigger fishes.

In A Nutshell

If you have reached here, you are all set with the necessary information that is required before getting a peacock gudgeon home. Make the necessary arrangements for the fish tank and water so that you do not face a tough time in the end.

It would be best if you kept this article handy so that you have all the desired information at the convenience of a single touch. These points are crafted after extensive research so that you can use them as an aid whenever there is a need.

Gudgeons are beautiful fishes that will add more vividness to your entire tank. Get them at the earliest and see them grow into colorful fishes!

Richard Rowlands
Richard Rowlands

Hello fellow aquatics enthusiasts! My name is Richard Rowlands. I’m an aquarium keeper and enthusiast and have been for about 25 years or so. While I won’t claim to be the end-all expert on aquatic life, I will say that I know my way around a tank.

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