{"product_id":"empire-gudgeon-male-hypseleotris-compressa","title":"Empire Gudgeon Male | Hypseleotris compressa","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn everyday Australian native that turns spectacular in breeding dress, the male Empire Gudgeon lights up in electric orange, red and blue with flowing, boldly-edged fins. Hardy, adaptable and reaching around 10–12 cm, it is one of our finest native fish and a true hidden gem for the home aquarium.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eNative to coastal drainages of northern and eastern Australia and New Guinea, living in slow rivers, billabongs, lagoons and estuaries. It naturally moves between fresh and brackish water and tolerates a wide range of conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eMature males are the showpiece, developing a reddish body and tall orange-and-blue dorsal and anal fins edged in white and black, intensifying dramatically when displaying. Outside of display they can look much plainer. They have the typical stocky gudgeon build with two separate dorsal fins.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eGenerally peaceful but can become territorial and semi-aggressive around spawning, with males displaying and sparring for females and space. Best kept with robust, similarly-sized tankmates rather than tiny fish it may eat. Several females help spread out male attention.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA micro-predator and carnivore. Offer meaty frozen and live foods such as bloodworm, brine shrimp, daphnia and small worms, along with quality sinking and carnivore pellets. Live foods bring males into peak breeding colour.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn adaptable, beginner-friendly native that suits temperate to tropical tanks. Provide clean, well-filtered water, some cover and open swimming space. It tolerates a broad range of temperature and hardness, and copes with slightly brackish conditions if desired.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eEgg-layers that deposit adhesive eggs on hard surfaces, with the male guarding and fanning the clutch. The catch is that the newly-hatched larvae are tiny and pelagic, usually needing brackish water and planktonic first foods, which makes rearing fry challenging for most home aquarists.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHypseleotris compressa\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEmpire Gudgeon (male)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNorthern and eastern Australia, New Guinea\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 10–12 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–5 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful to semi-aggressive\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e75 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e100+ litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore (micro-predator)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20–27 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.5–8.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8–20 dGH (moderately hard to hard)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater; tolerates slightly brackish)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAustralian native and hardy community aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eOther Australian natives such as rainbowfish, other gudgeons and hardy community fish of similar size that share its water preferences.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eVery small fish and shrimp it may eat, long-finned or slow fish that could be nipped, and delicate soft-water species.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232770801955,"sku":"AA3824-S","price":11.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232770834723,"sku":"AA3824","price":16.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55232770867491,"sku":"AA3824-L","price":21.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/empire-gudgeon-male-hypseleo-43878648611107.webp?v=1790305551","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/empire-gudgeon-male-hypseleotris-compressa","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}