Hypseleotris aurea

Shipway, 1950

Golden Gudgeon (also Golden Carp Gudgeon)

Species Summary

Described by Bruce Shipway in 1950, Hypseleotris aurea is restricted to the southern Pilbara region of Western Australia, well removed from its south-eastern Australian relatives. Together with the Slender Gudgeon (Hypseleotris ejuncida), it is thought to belong to a separate lineage of Western Australian carp gudgeons descended from an Empire-Gudgeon-like ancestor, distinct from the south-eastern species group. It has a reputation as a peaceful fish that takes prepared aquarium foods readily.

Carp gudgeons (genus Hypseleotris) are a notoriously confusing group even for experienced native-fish keepers: several look-alike species can share the same waterway, few people can reliably tell them apart on sight, and published photographs in field guides have historically been misidentified more often than not. Presently around eleven described and undescribed species are recognised from Australia. Collecting your own is the only realistic way to keep most of them, since none are commercially bred or offered for sale; all mature at around 3 cm, and males tend to set up territory in a small cave, tube or flowerpot, where they will also spawn, so a tank furnished with several potential spawning sites suits a group well. Wild-caught fish are often initially reluctant to take live-then-frozen brine shrimp or bloodworm, but usually come around; most species tolerate 4–37 °C and are most comfortable around 15–25 °C. Reported captive lifespans run to 3–5 years for most carp gudgeons.

Compiled for Home of the Rainbowfish from ANGFA sources: P. J. Unmack, “The genus Hypseleotris of southeastern Australia, its identification and breeding biology”, Fishes of Sahul 14, 2000, pp. 645–657.