Purple-spotted gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa)

Scientific name: Mogurnda adspersa Castelnau, 1878

The Purple-spotted gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa) is a freshwater fish of the family Eleotridae. In the aquarium it needs water at 16–20°C (61–68°F).

Purple-spotted gudgeon care at a glance

Temperature: 16–20°C (61–68°F)

Biology

Inhabits slow-flowing or still waters, among weed. Occurs in rivers, creeks and billabongs, usually over rocks or among vegetation. Feeds on worms, dragonfly larvae, midge and mosquito larvae, crustaceans and mosquito fishes. Maturity: F at 4.9 cm, M at 4.5 cm. Sexually dimorphic. Direct pair spawning in rivers and ponds at 19-34?C in Dec.-Feb. A single cluster of demersal eggs laid on a solid substrate, often close to vegetation. Spawns during the rainy season (November to March). Females produce successive batches of 280-1300 eggs which are deposited on rocks, logs, or other solid debris. Males guard and fan the eggs until hatching, which takes about 3-9 days depending on temperature. Preyed on by Perca fluviatilis and competes with mosquito fish.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Mogurnda adspersa
Family: Eleotridae (Sleepers)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 14.0
Common length: 7.0
Environment: Freshwater;; pH range: 7.0 - ?; dH range: 10 - 20 benthopelagic
Climate: Subtropical
Distribution: Oceania: Murray-Darling system of Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, Australia. Also eastern coastal drainages north of the Clarence River, New South Wales.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)