Purple Spotted Gudgeon
Gobiiformes sp.
The Purple Spotted Gudgeon (Gobiiformes sp.) is a peaceful fish that's rewarding to keep. Give it a tank of at least 150 litres (40 US gallons), water held at 68-79°F, and a pH of 6.5-7.5.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
Australia
- Australia & Oceania
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Purple Spotted Gudgeon Tank Setup
Treat 150 litres (40 US gallons) as a starting point - big predators need length, strong filtration, and a secure lid. Hold the water at 68-79°F and pH 6.5-7.5, and assume anything small enough to swallow will eventually be eaten. They reach about 20 cm as adults, so don't be misled by the small juveniles sold in stores.
What Do Purple Spotted Gudgeons Eat?
They're not fussy eaters - feed a varied diet, rotating good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods rather than the same thing every day, and match the food size to their mouths.
Purple Spotted Gudgeon Tank Mates
The Purple Spotted Gudgeon is peaceful, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. It's predatory, so anything small enough to fit in its mouth will be treated as food rather than a companion. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Purple Spotted Gudgeons Good for Beginners?
Care demand varies by line and setup. Match the care level to how often you actually test and change water.
Purple Spotted Gudgeon - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Purple Spotted Gudgeons need?
Purple Spotted Gudgeons need a tank of at least 150 litres (40 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
What water parameters do Purple Spotted Gudgeons need?
Keep them at 68-79°F with a pH of 6.5-7.5, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Purple Spotted Gudgeons eat?
Purple Spotted Gudgeons are omnivores and aren't fussy eaters. Feed a varied mix of good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods, and match the food size to their mouths. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Purple Spotted Gudgeons good for beginners?
It depends on the setup. Match Purple Spotted Gudgeons to how often you actually test water and perform maintenance.
Common mistakes with Purple Spotted Gudgeons
- Underestimating tank size - the minimum footprint is 150 litres (40 US gallons); impulse buying into a smaller tank leads to stress and shortened lifespan.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Check Purple Spotted Gudgeon against any other fish → Compares water parameters, predation risk, fin nipping and tank size, and draws both at life size.
Fish to avoid mixing with Purple Spotted Gudgeons
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- OscarPredator - Oscar will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Zebra DanioFin nipper - will shred the fins of peaceful fish
- Neon TetraSize risk - Purple Spotted Gudgeons will likely eat Neon Tetra at adult size
