Purple Spotted Gudgeon; Thoughts on Tank Mates

Here's a look at my Purple Spotted Gudgeon, and some thoughts on what fish to add, in addition to my T Bar Cichlid (Cryptoheros sajica).
I also give you a look at my 125 and my Ctenopoma Acutirostre, which goes by many names including: African Spotted Leaf Fish, Leopard Gourami, Spotted Bush Fish, Climbing Perch, among others.

[@idkmybffjill9682]

I’ve had success with small datnoids (take years to grow out anyway) and African bush fish. Will soon try a jungle perch

[@brianpickens730]

I would put the Gedgeon in your quarantine tank for a day, move the rocks around in the tank and introduce them both at the same time. Just a thought.

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

That's a good idea.

[@rfoerst1]

Choices, I think the blue acara would be a nice addition.

[@MELODYMUNRO]

Gudgeons are ambush predators in aussie waterways...hence the wanting to be in the cave....

[@colebeall7081]

I would try a school of giant danios. Underappreciated fish, very beautiful.

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

They're awesome if you like Danios. Unfortunately, I don't. Maybe some type of Barb though.

[@IH8COMERCIALRNB]

Danios will get eaten, too small. It might try and eat the bards but I think they'll be too fast and too wide in size to eat. But danios will be snacks, anything smaller than a rainbow is lunch.

[@IH8COMERCIALRNB]

The cichlid will dig up the plants regardless.. The gudgeon will look after itself. Sheesh, I had a purple spot in with with fully grown Frontosa at one point and various other African cichlids and it held it's own.

[@danielsalt363]

polypterus are awsome but yea as you say hard to find one that wont need a bigger tank in a year.

[@isaaclim8645]

Why not another ctenopoma? Or snakeskin gourami?

[@isaaclim8645]

Oops nevermind. Just reached the part where you talked about getting another ctenopoma.. I would if I were you though :(

[@IH8COMERCIALRNB]

I mean to follow up on what I said. You can have it with animals the size of a keyhole cichlid also. Anything that won't fit in it's mouth. They aren't territorial, they are just hungry. But it will survive in nearly all tanks. Bigger specimens of 30 cm + will probably do ok in with bigger American cichlids also . Anything upto jack dempsey size will be fine with it because Gudgeons are ... robust, they can look after themselves. Not many fish can intimidate a gudgeon.

[@hermesbowser11]

what about a dojo/weather loach? friendly, playful, love sand, and can even be hand fed! also very cheap

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

They're on my short list, for sure!

[@DebTim]

I agree that's a really good plan.. so rather than rehome him your are going to buy him some friends.. oh Dan that's just funny. I do think that's what you need to do

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

Heading to my good fish store today, in fact.

[@DebTim]

awesome I want to see what you come home with!

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

DebTim A CANADIAN Girl Me too! Lol

[@KCinSoCal]

Perhaps change caves system a tiny bit before adding rest of fish. My biggest interest is in seeing how the Saj will change the tank. Where will he make his earth works? And I am not sure, but I think Convict and Saj could breed? If they did, there is a real possibility that any/all other fish could be dead one morning.

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

Yeah, I've moved away from the idea of another potentially aggressive fish. In fact, I just got home with my new fish! You'll have to wait and see what I got though.

[@tylerowen1689]

should get a peacock eel. or some polyepterus like a senegalous to stay on the smaller side.

[@Bk-pu6to]

agree with brian's pet ideal. i rhink some schooling fish would look cool . giant danios, tiger barbs etc. convicts can be real aggressive, if just one try and get female convict. good dilemma to be in though. im thinking of setting up a 40 long and would like to get a t bar with a firemouth and some schooling fish. living through your 40 long for now

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

Firemouth isn't a bad idea either, now that you mention it.

[@UnheatednoProblem]

what about some bosemani rainbows they'll add some color and are big enough and fast enough i think they'd handle a little aggression

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

The trick would be getting some that are already large enough. (and paying for them. A $3 convict is a long way from a school of $13 rainbows.)

[@hamstersbettasandpiggys4740]

I think when you put the T bar in there you should call it the predator tank

[@Sector001ked]

What about some Peacock Gobies or Empire Gobies? Archer fish? Spotted or Red Scat?

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

It's not a brackish tank, and archger fish and scats need about 150 gallons, not 40. I think the peacocks would be a snack for the Purple Spotted and I've never come across the Empire Gudgeons, although I'd snatch them up if i ever did!

[@Sector001ked]

Hmmm, Peacock Gudgeons (too small for the PS Gudgeon)? I'm not sure what else. Red Parrot Cichlid?

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

Sector 001 They would probably work, but I really don't like them. I had some Stiphodon spp. before and that's about the size I'm imagining a Peacock is. I could be wrong.

[@ldub9150]

Golden wonder killis could work, the get about 4 inches.

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

That's not a bad idea. I really like them too.

[@tizok100]

What’s is that plant on the left ?

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

That's mostly Temple Plant with some Java fern.

[@JR-pd6vp]

Np

[@basssskirkoooo9665]

how about a ropefish? ever consider getting 1?

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

It's a thought. i'll keep it in mind.

[@JR-pd6vp]

I have a male convict and he's very very aggressive kills everything I put in the tank he and the female I had killed a medium sized Oscar probably 5 inches

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

Ok. Good to know. Thanks for that.

[@brianpham9025]

maybe a school of 6 ghost catfish will do.

[@GuppyDundee]

Get a bullrout

[@naturesfinest2408]

i dk exactly what you're looking for. i havent finished the video. i know you want to disperse aggresion. i never really had aggressive fish. but what about rainbow sharks. idk if you would want one but they are cool fish who like caves.

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

I've got a rainbow shark in my Angelfish tank. A retail might be an idea though. I'll consider it. thanks.

[@naturesfinest2408]

+Dan Hiteshew there are so many options out there. i have no idea how you will decide

[@hanzifaction]

Just put the T bar in! Lol, the suspense is killing me!

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

Lol. Me too.

[@tltl5064]

Maybe you should get a couple German Rams for the tank

[@RTGBEATS0414]

Where did you get the gudeon? I want one

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

I got it at a fish store in Frederick Maryland.

[@RTGBEATS0414]

Dang your lucky it's a beautiful fish. I hope I run across one

[@aloofgeephilo8404]

Hi Dan good news I bought a purple spotted Gudgeon 2 days ago. I'm worried about it tho. I haven't seen it feed yet and it spends all its time hidden behind all my rock work where I Can't see it. I've only seen it 3 times just very briefly. It seemed very frightened and skittish when I put it in the tank. So I'm wondering if the nature of this fish fits what's happening to mine, what was yours like when it was first settling in?

[@IH8COMERCIALRNB]

the nature of this fish is very docile and slow, feed it some live food, that should make it happier.

[@uvweyweydiogenes2424]

Giant danios would be cool

[@tuneztv8362]

I love these videos and I'm happy that you did another tank

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

thanks.

[@hamstersbettasandpiggys4740]

don't put a sevrum cichlid because I have one although they may be cute when they are small when thay get big thay will kill the Uther fish in the tank!!!!!

[@FreeSwimmer]

I like the way you have a large subscriber count and are active and current with videos. I started a fishroom about 6 months ago, found myself ill for a week and some, and realized that my main tank was enough for me afterall.. lol However I am in process of building a 360 gallon maintank to replace my 180 gallon. So, I want to commend you for your very well kept tanks and invite you to check out my channel activities. Thanks and best to your great fish and planted scapes.. p.s, I sub'd and would greatly appreciate your sub of approval my way..

[@vestyxe]

I think whatever goes in their is gonna spark of fishy fight club, good luck, haha.

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

lol. thanks.

[@DJ_LittlePea]

Sat here giggling so I won't comment ☺️☺️

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

There'll be no need i a little while. Lol

This type of Gudgeon can never be kept in a community tank. Never !

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

He did fine with a T Bar cichlid and Rainbowfish. I just moved the Rainbowfish because they outgrew the 40 gallon tank.

[@IH8COMERCIALRNB]

Yes they can. The males won't live with each other but purple spotted gudgeons are happy with (as he said) tropicals that aren't small enough to fit in it's mouth and cichlids not big enough to eat it. It's a driftwood brooder that guards it's nest and an ambush preditor, it would understand well the breeding and nesting habits of an American cichlid.

[@flinkbag6787]

Sid Stevens I've had my adult male Purple spot Gudgeon in with a Firemouth and Odessa Barbs for 2 years now, he is best friends with the Firemouth and never harasses anyone. I wouldn't have known they're an aggressive fish if I didn't do my research on them, he's that placid.

[@IH8COMERCIALRNB]

That's because they aren't aggressive in a territorial sense, they are aggressive with food. If you put it in with a shoal of platies and it was fully grown, they'd all get eaten. It will defend a cave but it won't swim around fighting things unless it's attacked. The only real problem with these are that they jump so you need to have lids. They don't care much about ph either, they are hardy as hell. Purple spots and a few of the other large predatory ones will look after themselves. I had them in with mbuna and big frontosa and they were happy , strong fish. Gudgeons do not take shit from anyone ..

[@flinkbag6787]

IH8COMMERCIALRNB Agreed 100%. Mines been in a community since I got him and the only thing he gets very mildly aggressive over is this one little cave. But even then he'll share it if pushed by my Firemouth. Surprisingly, my Gudgeon is a wussy eater and is often outcompeted by my Firemouth and small Barbs 😂

[@GUYANAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA]

Start mixing something will live haha

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

Lol Let God sort em out?

[@GUYANAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA]

Dan Hiteshew let nature win

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

Rico Suave Lol doesn't it always?

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

Rico Suave I mentioned you in one of my recent videos btw. I'll never forget you telling me that nothing good ever happens fast in fish keeping.

[@GUYANAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA]

Dan Hiteshew haha thanks man its a time game with fish

[@orandapower]

what is the minimal size for a gudgeon?

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

Sized tank? For these, I'd say no smaller than 40 gallons.