To infuse your aquarium with a dash of vivid hue and individuality, the Carpet Eleotris, commonly referred to as the Peacock Goby (Tateurndina ocellicauda), could be the ideal option. This small but eye-catching fish, which is native to the rivers of northern Australia and Papua New Guinea, is a favorite among aquarium enthusiasts. The Peacock Goby adds sparkle and beauty to any tank with its striking patterns and energetic behavior.
The Peacock Goby is well-known for having an exquisite look. It stands out in any aquatic setup thanks to its vibrant colors and detailed patterns. Particularly the males are renowned for their intricate fin displays, which resemble a peacock’s feathers. They use this striking display for more than just show; it’s essential to their mating rituals and territorial conflicts.
Although caring for a peacock goby has its own set of requirements, it can be a very rewarding hobby. They do best in soft substrate tanks that are densely planted and have lots of hiding places. Although these fish are generally calm, males in particular can be a little territorial, so it’s best to give them plenty of room and prevent overcrowding.
A beautiful addition to any aquarium, the peacock goby is suitable for both novice and expert aquarists. It is entertaining to watch due to its unusual appearance and intriguing behaviors, and many fish keepers can afford it due to its small size and low maintenance requirements. This lovely fish can become a treasured focal point in your aquatic environment with the correct arrangement and some care.
Characteristic | Description |
Scientific Name | Tateurndina ocellicauda |
Common Name | Carpet Eleotris, Peacock Goby |
Size | Up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) |
Tank Size | Minimum 10 gallons |
Water Temperature | 72-79°F (22-26°C) |
pH Level | 6.5-7.5 |
Diet | Omnivore, prefers live or frozen food |
Behavior | Peaceful, but territorial during breeding |
The exquisitely colorful Carpet Eleotris, also known as the Peacock Goby (Tateurndina ocellicauda), is a fish that can bring a splash of color to any aquarium. This species is an excellent option for novice and expert fish keepers alike, due to its captivating patterns and serene disposition. This post will go over the essential maintenance needs, perfect tank setup, and helpful hints to make sure your Peacock Goby flourishes and reveals all of its beauty in your aquatic environment.
- Habitat and habitat
- Description
- Size
- Behavior and Compatibility
- Aquarium
- Water parameters:
- Feeding
- Sexual Dimorphism
- Breeding
- Video by topic
- #Aquarium. Marginatus and Eliotris. Tateurndina ocellicauda. Nannostomus marginatus.
- Carpet Eleotris Tateurndina ocellicauda fighting for territory
- Carpet Eleotris (Tateurndina ocellicauda) – first impressions
- Carpet Eleotris. Keeping in an aquarium, breeding, compatibility and what to feed
- Carpet Eleotris (Tateurndina ocellicauda)
- Carpet Eleotris / Tateurndina ocellicauda
- Bright and unpretentious Carpet Eleotris
Habitat and habitat
New Guinea, Papua.
They are primarily found in the eastern portion of the island’s lowland streams, ponds, and rivers. It swims in loose schools in reservoirs found in tropical forests, where it is most frequently found.
Description
The vibrant little freshwater goby known as Carpet Eleotris (Tateurndina ocellicauda) is quite striking. The body is bluish-silver, with fins and body marked in pink, yellow, and black.
This species has bright turquoise coloration with numerous red dots and lines. Their dorsal fins are two, the anterior one being shorter. The size of the anal fin and the longer dorsal fin are the same. The anal and dorsal fin margins of the female are bordered in black. The edges of the male, however, are a brilliant yellow.
The name "Peacock Goby" comes from the black spot on the base of the caudal fin on both sexes. Both have yellow bellies, but the female’s yellow color is more noticeable—especially when she is in breeding condition. The most obvious distinction is in the shape of their heads. The male has a humped head and a much stronger, angry-looking jaw, while the female has a pointed head. Depending on the angle of view, the male’s eye may occasionally reflect red. Women do not exhibit this.
This species has equally exquisitely colored males and females.
Size
While females stay smaller, at about 4-5 cm, males grow to 6-7 cm.
Behavior and Compatibility
In a harem or in pairs, the Carpet Eleotris (Tateurndina ocellicauda) is found. A male with two or three females is advised if the latter choice is chosen.
Although it belongs to a somewhat exclusive species, it blends in well with many peaceful, small fish communities in aquariums. Other Papua New Guinea species, like Popondetta Rainbowfish (Popondetta sp.), make excellent tankmates. Tetras, Rasboras, Corydoras, and any other small, calm species are also acceptable. If you plan to keep the aquarium with other species that are territorial, like dwarf cichlids, make sure there is adequate room for everything.
Peacock gobies get along just fine in small, mostly female groups. They may argue amongst themselves, but this is usually confined to dramatic fits of rage, which makes them more entertaining to observe than if you had a pair.
Aquarium
For two adult fish, a 45*30*30 cm tank with 40 liters is ideal.
Soft, slightly acidic water and lots of hiding spots are preferred by Carpet Eleotris. They’ll look their best when you use a dark substrate with floating vegetation to boost their confidence.
They also require a large number of hiding spots, which means more submerged driftwood, rocks, and locations with a lot of aquatic vegetation. Ironically, they will go unnoticed far more frequently with this design. They typically huddle around any available small shelter in "naked" aquariums and move much less. They enjoy very clean water, but if there’s a lot of movement in the tank, they won’t be comfortable. Because these gobies can jump, make sure the area around the tank lid is gap-free.
Water parameters:
In the range of 22 to 27 °C pH: 6.5–7.5 Hardness: 5–10 ° DH
Weekly water changes of 20% are recommended.
Feeding
While they typically eat dry food, they seem to prefer small live and frozen foods like brine shrimp, bloodworms, tubifex, corethra, and daphnia.
On this diet, the fish will exhibit much better coloration and will go into spawning mode much sooner.
Sexual Dimorphism
A mature male typically develops a noticeable nuchal hump, is slightly larger than a mature female, and is more colorful—especially during the spawning period. Males lack the yellowish hue on their abdomens, whereas females do.
The anal fins can be used to identify the sex of the fish when they are younger. While most males lack a dark edging along the outer edge of their fin, the majority of females do.
Breeding
If the proper conditions are met, breeding the Peacock Goby (Tateurndina ocellicauda) is a simple process. Since the fish usually spawn in caves, having access to them is crucial. Short plastic tubing lengths are ideal because capping each end makes removal simple. Clumps of live plants are also helpful in giving the fish more cover.
To obtain a breeding pair (spawners), it is best to buy a group of 6-8 young fish and allow them to mate naturally. Provide the group with good nutrition, live and frozen foods, change 25% of the water weekly, and you will see spawning behavior that will not take long. When the fish are ready to spawn, the abdomen of the females will become noticeably rounded, and the males will be at the entrances to the selected caves. Whenever the female approaches the male"s cave, he will flutter and spread his fins in an attempt to lure her into the cave. Sometimes he will even use force, pushing the female towards the cave entrance.
The female will swim into the cave and lay 30 to 200 eggs, usually on top, if the male is successful. Little sticky threads are used to attach the eggs. After the female finishes laying, the male chases her off and assumes full responsibility for tending to the eggs. He typically tends to the eggs virtually nonstop, using his fins to fan them around and ensure that the surrounding water is fully saturated with oxygen. Other fish in the tank may want to be removed if you intend to raise fry because they will eat the eggs if they can get to them.
After the larvae hatch in 24 to 48 hours, the male no longer provides any care for the offspring. The fry now require their own aquarium or they will almost certainly be eaten. For a further two to four days, they start swimming freely. They are very easy to feed because they are big enough to take in brine shrimp nauplii, microworms, etc. right away.
Though the body is still transparent, growth is comparatively slow, reaching 1.5 to 2 cm by the month of life. After 5 to 9 weeks of life, the dark eye spot at the base of the tail—which gives the species its name, ocellicauda—begins to show signs of color formation. Before reaching sexual maturity, the color is still pale for a few months after three months, when it is already formed, just like in adult fish.
The Peacock Goby, or Carpet Eleotris (Tateurndina ocellicauda), is expected to live for approximately five years.
For any freshwater aquarium, the Carpet Eleotris, also known as the Peacock Goby, is a delightful addition. It gives your tank a burst of color and vitality with its gorgeous hues and graceful movements. Because of its calm disposition, it’s a fantastic fit for community tanks, where it can live in harmony with other animals.
The Peacock Goby requires very simple maintenance. They flourish in clean, well-kept aquariums with lots of hiding places and plush substrate. They have a varied diet, so giving them a variety of nutritious foods will support their growth. Maintaining their health and vibrancy requires regular water changes and a stable environment.
It’s fascinating to observe these fish as they investigate and engage with their surroundings. They are a favorite among aquarists due to their distinctive behaviors and lovely appearance. The Carpet Eleotris is undoubtedly something you should take into consideration if you want to give your aquarium a hint of elegance.