Freshwater
Cichlid
More details
Empire Gudgeon (Hypseleotris compressa)
Pro
Pro
Description
Empire Gudgeons are striking river fish from Australia and New Guinea, admired for their vivid red fins, iridescent bodies, and peaceful demeanor. Males display brilliant breeding colors, making them excellent feature fish for planted and biotope tanks.
Difficulty Level
Intermediate Care
Region
Empire Gudgeon (Hypseleotris compressa)
Core Details
Highlights
Care Level
/ 10
Hardy and peaceful but needs clean water, stable temperature, and a balanced diet to maintain color and health.
Environment Impact
/ 10
Largely captive-bred or sustainably collected. Not under major threat and supports regional fish farming practices.
Origin
Native to northern and eastern Australia, New Guinea, and parts of Indonesia. Found in both freshwater and brackish streams, lagoons, and slow rivers.
Visual & Behavioral Appeal
Males are especially vibrant, with flaming red dorsal and anal fins, a shimmering blue body, and a tapered, goby-like face. Females are subtler but elegant. Their gliding, hovering behavior adds visual interest without chaos.
Purpose
Functions as a peaceful centerpiece or mid-column accent. Brings color and natural movement to aquascapes. Also useful as a dither fish for shy species.
Importance
Underappreciated yet stunning, Empire Gudgeons bridge aesthetics and function. Ideal for planted, community, or even brackish setups. Their courtship displays add another layer of interaction to peaceful tanks.
Included Resources
Needs fine substrate or sand, shaded cover, and moderate flow. Performs well with mild tannins, clean water, and a tight lid (they may jump). Some hardscape and plant cover is recommended for comfort.
Best Use Cases
Great for Australian-native biotopes, low-brackish tanks, or community tanks with gentle fish. Pairs well with rainbows, gobies, and livebearers. Safe for shrimp colonies when well-fed.
Conservation Context
Not threatened in the wild and often farm-raised. Supporting local breeders helps reduce wild collection and keeps rare native species in circulation.
Ideal Aquatic Species
• Rainbowfish (e.g. Pseudomugil, Melanotaenia)
• Livebearers (swordtails, mollies)
• Bumblebee gobies
• Glassfish
• Amano shrimp, nerites, snails
Region (A)
• Latitude: -16.9203° S
• Longitude: 145.7710° E
(Cairns region, Queensland, Australia)
Region (B)
• Latitude: -5.4130° S
• Longitude: 150.4068° E
(Southern Papua New Guinea coastal rivers)
How Many Can I Keep?
Get smart stocking suggestions based on your tank size.
e.g. 75 gallons (280 L)
Empire Gudgeon (Hypseleotris compressa)
Core Details
Highlights
Care Level
/ 10
Hardy and peaceful but needs clean water, stable temperature, and a balanced diet to maintain color and health.
Environment Impact
/ 10
Largely captive-bred or sustainably collected. Not under major threat and supports regional fish farming practices.
Origin
Native to northern and eastern Australia, New Guinea, and parts of Indonesia. Found in both freshwater and brackish streams, lagoons, and slow rivers.
Visual & Behavioral Appeal
Males are especially vibrant, with flaming red dorsal and anal fins, a shimmering blue body, and a tapered, goby-like face. Females are subtler but elegant. Their gliding, hovering behavior adds visual interest without chaos.
Purpose
Functions as a peaceful centerpiece or mid-column accent. Brings color and natural movement to aquascapes. Also useful as a dither fish for shy species.
Importance
Underappreciated yet stunning, Empire Gudgeons bridge aesthetics and function. Ideal for planted, community, or even brackish setups. Their courtship displays add another layer of interaction to peaceful tanks.
Included Resources
Needs fine substrate or sand, shaded cover, and moderate flow. Performs well with mild tannins, clean water, and a tight lid (they may jump). Some hardscape and plant cover is recommended for comfort.
Best Use Cases
Great for Australian-native biotopes, low-brackish tanks, or community tanks with gentle fish. Pairs well with rainbows, gobies, and livebearers. Safe for shrimp colonies when well-fed.
Conservation Context
Not threatened in the wild and often farm-raised. Supporting local breeders helps reduce wild collection and keeps rare native species in circulation.
Ideal Aquatic Species
• Rainbowfish (e.g. Pseudomugil, Melanotaenia)
• Livebearers (swordtails, mollies)
• Bumblebee gobies
• Glassfish
• Amano shrimp, nerites, snails
Region (A)
• Latitude: -16.9203° S
• Longitude: 145.7710° E
(Cairns region, Queensland, Australia)
Region (B)
• Latitude: -5.4130° S
• Longitude: 150.4068° E
(Southern Papua New Guinea coastal rivers)
How Many Can I Keep?
Get smart stocking suggestions based on your tank size.
e.g. 75 gallons (280 L)
Empire Gudgeon (Hypseleotris compressa)
Core Details
Highlights
Care Level
/ 10
Hardy and peaceful but needs clean water, stable temperature, and a balanced diet to maintain color and health.
Environment Impact
/ 10
Largely captive-bred or sustainably collected. Not under major threat and supports regional fish farming practices.
Origin
Native to northern and eastern Australia, New Guinea, and parts of Indonesia. Found in both freshwater and brackish streams, lagoons, and slow rivers.
Visual & Behavioral Appeal
Males are especially vibrant, with flaming red dorsal and anal fins, a shimmering blue body, and a tapered, goby-like face. Females are subtler but elegant. Their gliding, hovering behavior adds visual interest without chaos.
Purpose
Functions as a peaceful centerpiece or mid-column accent. Brings color and natural movement to aquascapes. Also useful as a dither fish for shy species.
Importance
Underappreciated yet stunning, Empire Gudgeons bridge aesthetics and function. Ideal for planted, community, or even brackish setups. Their courtship displays add another layer of interaction to peaceful tanks.
Included Resources
Needs fine substrate or sand, shaded cover, and moderate flow. Performs well with mild tannins, clean water, and a tight lid (they may jump). Some hardscape and plant cover is recommended for comfort.
Best Use Cases
Great for Australian-native biotopes, low-brackish tanks, or community tanks with gentle fish. Pairs well with rainbows, gobies, and livebearers. Safe for shrimp colonies when well-fed.
Conservation Context
Not threatened in the wild and often farm-raised. Supporting local breeders helps reduce wild collection and keeps rare native species in circulation.
Ideal Aquatic Species
• Rainbowfish (e.g. Pseudomugil, Melanotaenia)
• Livebearers (swordtails, mollies)
• Bumblebee gobies
• Glassfish
• Amano shrimp, nerites, snails
Region (A)
• Latitude: -16.9203° S
• Longitude: 145.7710° E
(Cairns region, Queensland, Australia)
Region (B)
• Latitude: -5.4130° S
• Longitude: 150.4068° E
(Southern Papua New Guinea coastal rivers)
How Many Can I Keep?
Get smart stocking suggestions based on your tank size.
e.g. 75 gallons (280 L)
Empire Gudgeon (Hypseleotris compressa)
Region
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