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| Southern Purple-spotted Gudgeon usually grow to about
7 cm in length but they have been known to reach 12 cm. |
Southern Purple-spotted Gudgeon were once found everywhere throughout
the Murray, Murrumbidgee and Darling Rivers. Now they are only found
in a few places in New South Wales and Southern Queensland.
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IN THE PAST
Southern Purple-spotted Gudgeon were probably quite common. |
TODAY
Southern Purple-spotted Gudgeon are rarely caught in large numbers
and are thought to be extinct in Victoria and South Australia, although
there has been restocking at
Murray Bridge in South Australia. It is classified as 'endangered'. |
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| SLOPES AND TABLELANDS |
LAKES AND DAMS |
Southern Purple-spotted Gudgeon live in creeks and rivers
on slopes and tablelands and
in lakes and dams and wetlands on the plains.
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| SLOW MOVING WATERS |
AQUATIC PLANT BEDS |
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| SNAGS
AND ROCKS |
| Southern Purple-spotted Gudgeon like to live on the bottom
in slow-moving water where there is a good cover of aquatic plants. |
MATING
The male Southern Purple-spotted Gudgeon swims around the female
with his fins stretched out and his gill covers open. Courting may
last for days. Males can reproduce when they are about 4.5 cm in length
and females at 4.9 cm. |
SPAWNING
Southern Purple-spotted Gudgeon spawn from December - February
when water temperatures are from 19-34°C and water levels rise. The
female lays 30-1300 eggs before leaving the male to fan and guard them.
Females can spawn more than once in a season. |
EGGS
Sticky Southern Purple-spotted Gudgeon eggs are deposited on stones,
aquatic plants or logs. They are transparent, 2-3.8 mm in length, long
and thin, and pointed at both ends. |
JUVENILES
The young Southern Purple-spotted Gudgeon hatch in 3-8 days at
20-29°C. Newly-hatched fish are about 4 mm long, and have a yolk
sac that provides them with food for the first 6 days. |
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| Adult Southern Purple-spotted Gudgeon feed on worms, mosquitofish, and
dragonfly, midge and mosquito larvae. |
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| Southern Purple-spotted Gudgeon do not swim in schools or move to
a new place to spawn.
They usually 'sit and wait' for something to come along for them to
eat, lying still on the bottom and then lunging out to ambush it. |
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IN THE PAST
No commercial fishery. |
TODAY
No commercial fishery, although some fish are collected for aquariums. |
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IN THE PAST
Before the 1940s, Southern Purple-spotted Gudgeon were used as live
bait to catch Murray Cod. |
TODAY
A few Southern Purple-spotted Gudgeon are collected for aquariums. |
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LEGAL SIZES
There are no size limits on Southern Purple-spotted Gudgeon that
can be caught. This applies to all States of Australia. |
CATCH LIMITS
There are no limits on the number of Southern Purple-spotted Gudgeon
that can be caught each day. This applies to all States of Australia. |
CLOSED SEASONS
Southern Purple-spotted Gudgeon can be caught all year round in
all States of Australia. |
BAIT
Southern Purple-spotted Gudgeon are caught using small seine
nets and dip nets. |
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| FISH HABITATS |
| Southern Purple-spotted Gudgeon may have to compete with mosquitofish
for habitat. |
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| ALIEN SPECIES |
| Redfin are known to eat Southern Purple-spotted Gudgeon. |
| Southern Purple-spotted Gudgeon are not bred for restocking wild habitats
but are a popular fish for aquariums due to their bright colour patterns. |
RECOVERY PLANS
A National Recovery Plan
has been developed for the Southern Purple-spotted Gudgeon.
Actions will include:
- Discovering if the Southern Purple-
spotted Gudgeon found in some
coastal areas are the same species as
those further inland.
- Discovering the things about the river
that are important to the Southern
Purple-spotted Gudgeon.
- Discovering how alien species
of fish
affect the Southern Purple-spotted
Gudgeon.
- Restocking suitable habitats with
Southern Purple-spotted Gudgeon.
- Conducting research into breeding
Southern Purple-spotted Gudgeon in
captivity. |
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