Re: [RML] Striped Gudgeons

Richard Cheong (kien at progsoc.uts.edu.au)
Fri, 21 Mar 1997 19:03:41 +1100 (EST)

On Thu, 20 Mar 1997, Bruce Hansen wrote:
> I wonder if any RML member has any knowlege of the breeding habits of the
> Striped Gudgeon, Gobiomorphus australis?
> I have usually found them in soft acid waters and the only time I have
> caught young fish (smaller than 3cm or so) they have been in close
> proximity to the sea. I have never found juvenilles in permanently
> landlocked situations although often in residual waterholes in creek
> systems. I feel they may be estuarine spawners perhaps like some other
> members of the genus that are found in New Zealand.
>
> I am not aware of anyone who has bred them in captivity.

I have been keeping them for years. All of the Striped Gudgeons are from
a local creek (wolli creek) that drains into Botany Bay. Unfortunately to
say... I have never managed to make them spawn. They never display
any spawning behaviour or change in colour.

As for the juvenilles (less than 1cm)... most of them can be found in the
lower part of Wolli creek (mangrove and esturies).

The best time to catch them is at night. They like to sit on top of
submerged rock/driftwood. Daze them with a torch light and gently scoop
them up. Speciments about 10cm are the norm at Wolli creek.

Richard Kien Cheong " Life a bitch, then you dive. "
rkcheong at acs.itd.uts.edu.au
kien at ftoomsh.progsoc.uts.edu.au