TankBud

Empire gudgeon

Hypseleotris compressa

FreshwaterFish

Empire gudgeon (Hypseleotris compressa)
Frank M. Greco · CC BY 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–95°F
20–35°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
4.7 in
12 cm
Minimum tank
26 gal
100 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Substrate spawner
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Eleotridae
Origin
Australia, New Guinea

Overview

The empire gudgeon is a peaceful open-water fish that hovers in the middle of the tank more than most gobies. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

The empire gudgeon looks much like a true goby, but its pelvic fins stay separate instead of fusing into a suction disc. That is the simplest way to tell sleepers and true gobies apart.

Caring for the empire gudgeon

A tank of at least 26 gal (100 L) suits a small group of empire gudgeons. Plant the edges and add driftwood and leaf litter to break up sight lines, but leave open midwater for swimming. The flow should be gentle.

Keep the water at 68 to 95°F (20 to 35°C), a wide range that suits this adaptable fish. Aim for a neutral pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Slightly hard, clean water helps keep their colors strong.

The empire gudgeon tends to ignore dry flake. Offer small frozen and live foods, such as bloodworms, daphnia and brine shrimp, to keep it in good condition.

It is peaceful and shows its best red and orange colors in a group, where the males display to one another rather than fight. It gets along with similarly sized, calm companions. It will eat very small fish and shrimp that fit in its mouth.

Males are fairly plain for much of the year, then flush into bright red, orange and yellow when ready to spawn. A male guards a large batch of tiny eggs laid on a firm surface. The newly hatched larvae drift to brackish or marine water to develop, then return upriver. That amphidromous life cycle is why breeding is very rarely seen in tanks and is essentially unrecorded at home.

Good to know

The empire gudgeon sits in Eleotridae, the sleeper goby family. Its seasonal color change is one of the bigger ones among Australian native freshwater fish.

In the wild

Empire gudgeons range across the coastal rivers, streams and floodplain lagoons of northern and eastern Australia and southern New Guinea. They are often found in slow, warm lowland water. They cope with anything from cool subtropical spells to hot tropical shallows.

Common questions

What size tank does an empire gudgeon need?

An empire gudgeon needs at least 26 gal (100 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does an empire gudgeon need?

An empire gudgeon is comfortable at 68–95°F (20–35°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.

What does an empire gudgeon eat?

An empire gudgeon tends to ignore dry flake. Feed it small frozen and live foods, such as bloodworms, daphnia and brine shrimp.

How big does an empire gudgeon get?

An adult empire gudgeon reaches about 4.7 in (12 cm).

How does an empire gudgeon breed?

Empire gudgeons lay a large batch of tiny eggs on a firm surface, and the male guards them. The larvae drift to brackish or marine water before returning upriver, so home breeding is essentially unrecorded.

Related species