SOUTHERN PURPLE SPOTTED GUDGEON
Mogurnda adspersa
GENERAL INFORMATION
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DESCRIPTION Small and compact with purple multicoloured spots along it's body. Quite nice. SIZE 7 - 12 cm. INTERESTING FACTS Unfortunately and unforgivably this fish is extinct in the South Australian gulf division. |
This fish has colourful markings that look good under suitable lighting. It is not particularly active in the aquarium but it is easily observed. Will often swim up to people who approach the aquarium, expecting to be fed. Can be trained to take food from the hand. Due to the conservation problems related to this fish in South Australia, I feel very privileged to keep and breed a population of Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeons.
AVAILABILITY
Sometimes available through aquarium retailers. Also obtainable from the South Australian Native Fish Association for members.
MAINTENANCE OF CAPTIVE SPECIMENS
SUITABILITY FOR KEEPING IN CAPTIVITY
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Advantages: Grows to a suitable size. Happy in a small aquarium (60 cm or more). Can be territorial bur rarely will harass other fish. May squabble with its own kind but will not harm each other. Not particularly sensitive to harassment. Not sensitive to water quality. Able to tolerate cold and tropical water temperatures. Does not disturb plants. |
Disadvantages: Will eat other fish that are smaller. Can be tricky to feed only because tank mates may steal its food. Only eats meat and fish. |
Suitable for beginners.
AQUARIUM CONDITIONS
| Minimum aquarium size: | 60 cm long X 30 cm wide. |
| Water temperature: | Tolerates both warm and cold water well. |
| Water salinity: | Freshwater only. |
| Filtration & oxygenation: | Water needs to be kept reasonably clean and always well oxygenated. |
| Lighting: | Not critical, but the gudgeon really looks good under proper lighting. |
| Plants: | Plant are appreciated but not critical. |
| Furnishings: | Dark hiding locations important. |
| Notes: |
AQUARIUM BEHAVIOR
Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeons settle into the aquarium easily. I have difficulty observing them behaving normally because every time a captive gudgeon sees a human it anticipates being fed and gets all excited. They are poor swimmers and reside on the bottom of the tank when they are not excited. These particular gudgeons seem to be very extroverted, and are not shy. They rarely fight with each other.
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FEEDING HABITS I have only been able to feed live and frozen foods to these fish. They ignore pellets and flake food. They eat pieces of fish, beef heart, blood worm, and anything else meaty. Feeding once a day seems sufficient. FISH KEEPING RECOMMENDATIONS Very easy to care for apart from feeding. Keep them away from substantially smaller fish. |
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'Studly' the father. He is younger and less tame than his mate. |
'Big Mumma' |
OUR FISH
SPECIMEN DETAILS
One breeding pair and 20+ fry.
AQUARIUM DETAILS
Adults are kept in a standard tropical aquarium when not being bred. Fry are being raised in a 60 cm unheated tank.
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'Studly' patrolling the tank in the search for food. |
BREEDING ACCOUNT
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BREEDING SETUP One pair of Gudgeons were placed into a 90 cm X 45 cm aquarium, heated to 25C. The tank was bare of furnishings. The gudgeons spawned when the other inhabitants of the tank were removed (various tropical fish). SPAWNING I discovered the eggs deposited on the side of the tank, guarded and fanned by the male gudgeon. The female had suffered some superficial damage and was staying well away from the eggs. I assume that the male had attacked her after the spawning to keep her away. She was removed immediately. |
The eggs developed over a period of four days. I treated the tank with a light dose of 'quick cure' fungacide to prevent any fungus destroying the eggs. The male continued to guard and fan the eggs and refused to eat when I attempted to feed him. I could see the young fish growing inside the eggs.
HATCHING AND TRANSFER OF FRY
On the fourth day the eggs hatched. The fry remained attatched to the glass for a while longer before they became free swimming. I removed as many of the fry as I could using a syphon tube. I placed the captured fry into a 60 cm X 30 cm tank that was bare of any furnishings save a small sponge filter. It had no heater or substrate. I estimated that I transfurred 30 fry. Some were not removed from the spawing tank (they were too good at hiding!). The fry were so small as to require the use of a powerful torch to spot them.
FRY DEVELOPMENT
Initially I fed the fry on 'liquid fry food for egglayers', three times daily. I also placed two mystery snails into the tank to eat any left over food and prevent decay. After six weeks the fry had grown a fair bit so I switched their diet to frozen bloodworm. I seem to have around 30 fish.
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Tiny Southern Purple Spotted Gudgeon fry, swimming about in their nursery aquarium. |
USEFUL LINKS
Native Fish Australia - Adspersa page.
Contains details of distribution, habitat and aquarium care. Also has an image.
Copyright (c) Alexander Foreman
