Gudgeons?! Advice Please

[Emma2938]

Hi All,
well i am setting up *a tank for a breeding pair of*purple*spot gudgeons. Can anyone tell me the water parameters I need?? pH, KH, GH etc? *Decoration suggestions etc etc? Any info would be great as I cant find anything really on google!

Cheers
Emma.

[volenti]

Information on gudgeon breeding is pretty thin on the ground, I don't think they need any specific water parameters, the usual ph7 moderatly soft water, KH 4-5 ish, Gh similar or slightly higher should do. It's likley they breed in response to seasonal rains, so if you collect and store some rain water, and do water changes with that after you get them into breeding condition should produce the best chance for success.

I do know that with many gudgeons it's not the breeding that's the hard part but raising the fry, they are incredibly tiny when they hatch and require even tinyer live food, "green water" with the accompaning microscopic live forms is best, untill they get large enough to take baby brine shrimp.

[Marc]

I think emma has it pretty much under control from what I've read on another forum. I think she has a few hundred fry now!

[Fullboar]

Hi Emma, they are very hardy fish and can be kept in water from 5 to 32'C and can stand salinities of up to 10,000/m. I have one in my Spotted Galaxias tank. Jump on NFA's site, it has a little info that may help. As for breeding, they breed once the water hits 20'C or more. Best to rase the water temp over a few months. I'm looking into breeding them as well. I need some more if you know where I can get them from. I havent looked around yet.



Scott