Peacock Gudgeon

Native to Papua New Guinea, the Peacock Gudgeon is one of those fish that genuinely surprises people the first time they see one in person. Photos don't quite do it justice. The body is a shimmering blue-silver overlaid with red and yellow banding, and there's a bold black eyespot near the base of the tail that gives the species its common name. Mature males grow a pronounced nuchal hump on their forehead, which makes sexing them pretty straightforward once they're adults.

At around 7 centimeters they're compact enough for a well-planted nano or species setup, though they do appreciate a bit of horizontal swimming room. Water conditions should be soft to moderately hard, pH kept between 6.0 and 7.5, and temperature in the 22 to 26 Celsius range. They don't cope well with fluctuating parameters or poor water quality, so consistent maintenance matters more than hitting any specific number.

Diet is carnivorous. They'll take high-quality frozen foods like bloodworm, daphnia, and brine shrimp readily, and most individuals can be weaned onto quality micropellets over time. Live foods are genuinely useful during breeding conditioning.

Behavior is calm and personable. They tend to perch on leaves and hardscape, watching the tank with obvious curiosity. They won't bother plants or snails, and they get along well with similarly sized, gentle tankmates.

Breeding is a real highlight of keeping this species. They're cave spawners and males will guard eggs enthusiastically, making them one of the more accessible egg-layers for hobbyists who want to try their hand at spawning something a bit different. Check out real keeper builds showcasing this species to see how well they pop against dark substrates and dense planting.