Gudgeon

Overview

Everything you need to know about Gudgeon, at a glance:

• Common Names: -
• Scientific Name: Gobio gobio
• Max Size: ~15cm
• Temperature Range: 10-18°C, though can survive temperatures close to freezing
• pH Range: 7.0-8.0
• Compatibility: Peaceful, will get along with other similarly sized pond fish
• Area Of Origin: Eurasia, but commonly found in UK waterways
• Suitable Foods: Prefer sinking foods, but will learn to accept a variety of sticks, pellets, and flakes.
• Special Requirements: Need to be kept in small shoals of at least 5 individuals

What is a Gudgeon?

Gudgeon are small, bottom-dwelling fish native to UK waterways, particularly in lowland England. They have two barbels that protrude from their lower jaws, which they use to root out food in sandy and gravelly canals, rivers, and streams.

Gudgeon are shoaling fish and will congregate in large groups for safety while searching for food. They have slender bodies and only grow to max sizes of ~15cm. They also have dark backs, dark bars along their flanks, and speckled, pale bellies – characteristics that help them ‘blend’ into their surrounding environment.

At certain times of the year, these small fish can be heard squeaking to one another. It’s thought that this is a means of communication between individuals and a sign that they’re ready to breed. These sounds can vary depending on the temperature of your water and other fluctuating parameters.

How do I care for Gudgeon?

Gudgeon are small, hardy fish that can adapt to a wide range of aquatic environments. This makes them a great choice of fish for first-time pond keepers, particularly those interested in keeping species native to the UK. That said, they do require a degree of specialist care, just like any other pond fish.

As shoaling fish, Gudgeon need to be kept in small groups of at least five individuals, though more is always better. The more Gudgeon you have in your pond (space permitting) the more outgoing they’ll be – you may even be lucky enough to see them breed (typically between the months of April and July).

While they’re small, Gudgeon do need some swimming room and will do best in garden ponds with a large surface area. These are bottom-dwelling fish that scour substrate in search of food, so a wide, shallow pond with a large bottom is a lot better than a narrow, deep pond with a small bottom.

Gudgeon will also help stir up silt and detritus at the bottom of your pond, putting it into suspension and making it easier for your pond filter to remove. This makes them fantastic ‘worker fish’ and a great addition to garden ponds that house messier fish. Be careful not to stock them with large, predatory fish though, or they’ll quickly become dinner!

Like most other types of pond fish, Gudgeon thrive in a well-filtered and well-oxygenated environment. To create these conditions in your pond, get yourself a large pond filter and a powerful pond pump capable of running a fountain and/or waterfall. You could also run an air pump to further increase oxygen levels in your pond.

When it comes to food, Gudgeon prefer sinking pellets, though they will learn to accept a variety of sticks, flakes, and other kinds of pellets. In the wild, Gudgeon survive largely on a diet of worms, aquatic insects and their larvae. Try to simulate this protein-rich diet by occasionally offering them some live foods.

How is this Gudgeon delivered?

All of our aquatic animals are dispatched from our livestock distributor and delivered directly to your doorstep. Our distributor dispatches and delivers livestock packages Tuesday through Friday to avoid animals being in transit over the weekend. To further minimise time spent travelling, all livestock deliveries are made before 1pm on the day of delivery.

After placing your livestock order, you’ll receive all the information needed to track your livestock order via email. If you have any problems regarding delivery, or concerns about the health/wellbeing of your animal(s) upon arrival, please contact us, Swell UK Ltd, immediately, or at least within 48 hours of receiving your livestock order.

Any other, non-livestock items that you purchase alongside livestock will be sent via standard or express delivery and arrive at your delivery address in a different package. This means that, depending on when you place your order, you may receive your non-livestock items before or after your livestock package.

For a detailed breakdown of when you can expect to receive your livestock package depending on the day you placed your order, be sure to check the delivery details in the specifications below.

How do you acclimate a Gudgeon to a pond?

It’s very important that you acclimatise new fish to your pond. This is the process of gradually adjusting an animal to its new environment and it’s especially important in an aquatic setting where sudden changes in water temperature, pH, and nitrates can cause stress, illness and, in some cases, even death.

To acclimatise your Gudgeon, add it to a large, dimly lit container and add a small amount of pond water every few minutes. Do this until water temperatures in this container match water temperatures in your pond, and for at least 20 minutes. If you don’t have a large container to hand, you can float the bag containing your fish in your pond instead.

You should always set up your pond and make sure it’s ready for fish prior to purchasing any. It’s also a good idea to let your pond filter mature for a few months before adding Gudgeon.

Above photos are for illustration purposes only; livestock received may not exactly match those photographed.