Northern Purplespotted Gudgeon

About

The Northern Purplespotted Gudgeon (Mogurnda mogurnda) is a compact, characterful fish from Australia and Papua New Guinea, where it turns up in an impressive range of habitats. From muddy outback swamps and desert bores to clear jungle streams and slow-moving billabongs among rocks and vegetation. The body is patterned with purple and orange spotting that intensifies noticeably in males when they come into breeding condition, making them easy to sex once you know what to look for. In the aquarium, this species has a reputation for being territorial and assertive, especially toward its own kind, so tankmates need to be chosen with care. Fast-moving barbs, characins, larger rainbowfish, and armored catfish tend to hold their own, but delicate or long-finned species are a poor match. Give the fish plenty of hiding spots, caves, driftwood, rocks, and you'll see much more natural behavior. Breeding is genuinely rewarding: the male takes on full parental duties after the female deposits eggs on a flat surface, fanning and defending them until they hatch. Despite that territorial streak, this gudgeon is actually a forgiving choice for intermediate keepers, tolerating a broad range of water conditions and adapting well to aquarium life. It can be confused with the rarer Southern Purplespotted Gudgeon, so it's worth double-checking what you're buying.