Empire gudgeon

The empire gudgeon from northern and eastern Australia and southern New Guinea lives in rivers and tolerates salinity up to that of seawater. It eats small crustaceans, mosquito larvae and algae. When breeding the male becomes very colourful, defends a territory and guards the eggs. The larvae drift down to the sea or to estuaries and return to fresh water once grown — which is why it rarely breeds in aquaria.

Scientific name

Hypseleotris compressa

Family

Eleotridae