TankBud

Poreless gudgeon

Oxyeleotris nullipora

Also known as Nullipora sleeper, Poreless goby

FreshwaterFish

Poreless gudgeon (Oxyeleotris nullipora)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
2 in
5 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Cave spawner
Rarity
Rare
Family
Eleotridae
Origin
Southern New Guinea and northern Australia

Overview

The poreless gudgeon is a peaceful dwarf sleeper for the bottom of a quiet nano tank, not a predator tank. It is best with a little experience.

Did you know

The poreless gudgeon is the dwarf of a genus otherwise known for giants. Its relative the marbled sleeper is a bottom-hugging predator that grows past 40 centimeters. The marbled sleeper is farmed and sold as food across Southeast Asia.

Caring for the poreless gudgeon

Keep the poreless gudgeon in a heavily planted tank of at least 20 gal (75 L). Fine, soft substrate, leaf litter, shade and plenty of low cover keep it confident. Use gentle filtration with little current.

It likes warm, soft, slightly acidic to neutral water, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and pH 6.0 to 7.5. Offer small meaty foods such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia, cyclops and finely chopped frozen items, plus small sinking pellets.

It can be kept singly or in a small group, and it mixes with tiny, gentle fish. It is easily outcompeted at feeding time, so choose calm tank mates and make sure food reaches the floor. In the wild the male guards eggs laid in a crevice, but the poreless gudgeon is essentially unrecorded as an aquarium breeder.

Good to know

Oxyeleotris nullipora is a sleeper goby of the family Eleotridae. Its species name refers to the reduction or loss of the sensory head pores that many relatives carry. It is also sold as the nullipora sleeper or poreless goby.

In the wild

The poreless gudgeon comes from weedy, slow waters of southern New Guinea and the far north of Australia. It lives in backwaters, small creeks, swamps and lily lagoons, over soft mud among dense plants.

Common questions

What size tank does a poreless gudgeon need?

A poreless gudgeon needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a poreless gudgeon need?

A poreless gudgeon is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a poreless gudgeon eat?

A poreless gudgeon eats small meaty foods such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia, cyclops and finely chopped frozen items. It also takes small sinking pellets.

How big does a poreless gudgeon get?

An adult poreless gudgeon reaches about 2 in (5 cm).

How does a poreless gudgeon breed?

Poreless gudgeons lay their eggs in a crevice in the wild, and the male guards them. The species is essentially unrecorded as an aquarium breeder.

Related species