Care
The Purple Spotted Gudgeon is a fairly rare import. These fascinating fish can be a little territorial at times, so a spacious and well furnished aquarium should be provided. In the wild, Purple Spotted Gudgeon are found amongst rocks and areas of vegetation and roots in the calm waters of billabongs, creeks and slow-moving sections of rivers. As such, the aquarium should contain plenty of aquatic plants and rock piles, caves, bogwood tangles etc, which help to create visual barriers. Breaking up the lines of sight should enable multiple specimens to be kept in the same tank. It should be noted that larger specimens are more than capable of eating small fish species, so tankmates must be chosen with care.
Feeding
Small frozen foods such as mosquito larvae, daphnia, brineshrimp etc. These fish do not often take dried foods.
Breeding
In the wild, Purple Spotted Gudgeon spawn in mated pairs from November through to March, when water temperatures have become slightly elevated. Following an elaborate and often lengthy courtship display, a good-sized cluster of eggs will be laid on a solid rocky surface, which the male will vigorously guard and fan with his pectoral fins. If the tank is a little on the small side, the male may aim his attacks towards the female, who will need to be moved to another tank. The eggs usually hatch within 3 to 9 days, depending on the water temperature. Infusoria should be added as a first food, moving on to bigger foodstuffs in accordance with the size of the young.
