Peacock Gudgeon Care Guide: Tank Setup, Diet & Breeding
The peacock gudgeon (Tateurndina ocellicauda) is one of the most striking nano fish you can keep — a peaceful, jewel-toned gem that stays small, shows brilliant color, and is easy to care for. Native to Papua New Guinea, it's perfect for planted community tanks and a favorite among nano fish enthusiasts. This guide covers everything you need: tank setup, water parameters, diet, temperament, and breeding.
Peacock Gudgeon Overview
Peacock gudgeons reach only about 3 inches and live 4–5 years with good care. Males develop a slight forehead hump and more intense coloring, while females stay a touch rounder with a yellow-edged dorsal fin. Their pastel blue body, red speckling, and the signature dark "eye spot" on the tail make them stand out. They're gentle, slightly shy, and best kept in small groups. If you want more peaceful tankmates, browse our community fish collection.
Tank Size and Setup
A single pair is comfortable in a 10-gallon tank, while a small group of 6 or more does best in 20 gallons or larger. They love heavily planted aquascapes with caves, driftwood, and gentle flow that mimics their slow-moving stream habitat. A dark substrate makes their colors pop. For setup help, see our planted aquarium guide and substrate guide, and check our best fish for a 10-gallon tank for stocking ideas. You can also explore peaceful options in our nano fish collection.
Water Parameters
Peacock gudgeons are adaptable but prefer stable, slightly soft water:
- Temperature: 72–79°F (22–26°C)
- pH: 6.0–7.8 (neutral is ideal)
- Hardness: soft to moderately hard
Like all fish, they should only go into a fully cycled tank. If you're new to this, our nitrogen cycle guide explains how to establish beneficial bacteria before adding livestock. Stable parameters matter far more than chasing exact numbers.
Diet and Feeding
Peacock gudgeons are micro-predators that prefer meaty foods and can be picky about dry flakes at first. Offer a varied diet of frozen and live foods like frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia, supplemented with high-quality micro pellets. Freeze-dried bloodworms are a convenient staple, and you can round out their menu from our frozen fish food selection. For mixed setups, see our picks for the best community tank food.
Temperament and Tank Mates
Peacock gudgeons are peaceful and a little timid, so avoid fin-nippers and boisterous fish. They pair beautifully with small tetras, rasboras, corydoras, and Neocaridina shrimp — though adult gudgeons may eat the tiniest shrimplets, so dense plant cover helps the babies survive. Snails like nerites are completely safe companions. Keep them away from larger cichlids or aggressive barbs.
Breeding Peacock Gudgeons
Peacock gudgeons are cave spawners and surprisingly easy to breed. Provide a small cave or piece of PVC, condition the pair with live and frozen foods, and the male will guard and fan the eggs after the female lays them inside. Eggs hatch in about 8–10 days, and the fry are large enough to take baby brine shrimp and crushed foods. A separate, gently filtered grow-out tank improves fry survival.
Is the Peacock Gudgeon Right for You?
If you want a colorful, peaceful, beginner-friendly fish for a planted nano or community tank, the peacock gudgeon is hard to beat. They're hardy, attractive, and rewarding to breed. Stock a small group, give them plants and caves, and feed a varied diet — and you'll enjoy one of the freshwater hobby's most underrated beauties. Ready to add one to your tank? Check availability on our peacock gudgeon listing.