Empire Gudgeon

Hypseleotris compressa is one of Eastern Australia's most beautiful native fish and arguably the most popular Australian gudgeon in the aquarium hobby. Outside of breeding season, males are attractively marked in orange and brown with iridescent scales, but when spawning condition is reached, dominant males undergo a dramatic colour transformation: the entire body flushes deep orange to scarlet red, while the edges of the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins light up in brilliant electric blue. Females and sub-dominant males remain more modestly coloured. This amphidromous species inhabits the lower reaches of rivers, streams, and estuaries of eastern Australia, tolerating a broad range of conditions. In the aquarium it is peaceful, hardy, and accepts a wide variety of foods, making it an excellent choice for a native Australian species display.