Gudgeon
Gobio gobio
The Gudgeon is a lively, bottom-dwelling coldwater fish native to European rivers, valued for its peaceful nature, gregarious behaviour, and fascinating foraging habits.
Ideal Conditions
- Temperature
- 4 – 20 °C
- pH range
- 7 – 8
- Hardness
- 10 – 20 dGH
- Adult size
- 12 – 15 cm
- for a shoal of six in an aquarium
- 200 litres+
- Lifespan
- 5 – 8 years
- Diet
- omnivorous
- Water flow
- moderate to high
- Preferred setup
- Soft sand or smooth fine gravel substrate, smooth river cobbles, and highly oxygenated water.
About the Gudgeon
The Gudgeon (*Gobio gobio*) is a small, gregarious freshwater fish widely distributed across the rivers and streams of Europe. Characterised by its streamlined profile and the distinct sensory barbels at the corners of its mouth, it is an engaging bottom-dweller that adds constant activity to coldwater aquariums and well-oxygenated ponds. Although frequently overlooked in the ornamental trade in favour of brightly coloured exotics, the Gudgeon possesses a subtle, natural charm and exhibits fascinating, tireless foraging behaviours as it sifts through the substrate.
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Where Gudgeon comes from
Native range
Europe, Northern Asia
Countries / regions
United Kingdom, France, Germany, Poland, Russia, Sweden
Habitat
Fast-flowing rivers, streams, and occasionally the sandy shallows of clear lakes.
Widely distributed across the Palearctic region, commonly found over sandy or gravelly substrates in running water.
Similar species
Stone Loach
Barbatula barbatula
Eurasian Minnow
Phoxinus phoxinus
Ruffe
Gymnocephalus cernua
Common Dace
Leuciscus leuciscus
We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.
Compatible tank mates
Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.
- Great
Eurasian Minnow
Phoxinus phoxinus
Shares identical requirements for cool, fast-flowing, highly oxygenated water and occupies the upper water column.
- Great
Stone Loach
Barbatula barbatula
A peaceful native bottom-dweller that perfectly complements the Gudgeon in a river-biotope setup.
- Great
Roach
Rutilus rutilus
A peaceful, active mid-water schooling fish that naturally coexists with Gudgeon across European waters.
- Great
Tench
Tinca tinca
Peaceful co-habitants that also forage on the bottom, though they prefer slightly less flow; excellent for larger pond environments.
- Compatible with caution
Common Carp
Cyprinus carpio
Large adult Carp can accidentally ingest small bottom-dwelling fish and will aggressively outcompete them for food.
- Compatible with caution
Goldfish
Carassius auratus
Fancy Goldfish lack the swimming ability to handle the high flow Gudgeons require; single-tails are better but may outcompete them at feeding time.
- Not recommended
European Perch
Perca fluviatilis
Perch are natural predators of small cyprinids and will actively hunt and consume Gudgeon.
- Not recommended
Northern Pike
Esox lucius
A highly efficient apex predator that views Gudgeon entirely as a food source.
- Not recommended
European Eel
Anguilla anguilla
Eels are nocturnal predators that will easily predate on resting bottom-dwelling fish like the Gudgeon.
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