{"product_id":"dwarf-flathead-gudgeon-philypnodon-macrostomus-2-4cm","title":"Dwarf Flathead Gudgeon (Philypnodon macrostomus) 2-4cm","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"nta-product\"\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"nta-title\"\u003e\nDwarf Flathead Gudgeon (\u003cem\u003ePhilypnodon macrostomus\u003c\/em\u003e)\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp class=\"nta-tagline\"\u003e\nTiny, cryptic and uniquely Australian, the Dwarf Flathead Gudgeon is a fascinating native freshwater fish prized for its compact size, broad head, mottled camouflage and natural ambush-predator behaviour. A smaller relative of the Flathead Gudgeon, \u003cem\u003ePhilypnodon macrostomus\u003c\/em\u003e is an excellent choice for aquarists wanting to explore Australia's lesser-known native freshwater species.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"nta-box\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuick Facts\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eScientific name: \u003cem\u003ePhilypnodon macrostomus\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCommon name: Dwarf Flathead Gudgeon\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOrigin: South-eastern Australia\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCurrent size: Approximately 2–4 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdult size: Approximately 4–5 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTank size: 40L+ recommended\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDifficulty: 🟡 Moderate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTemperament: Generally peaceful but predatory towards very small animals\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBest kept: Singly, as a pair or in small groups with plenty of bottom structure and cover\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"nta-box\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs this for you?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e✔️ Perfect if:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou enjoy keeping Australian native freshwater fish.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou want a genuinely small gudgeon species.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou appreciate natural behaviour and camouflage rather than bright ornamental colours.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou are creating a native, creek-style or naturalistic aquarium.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e❌ Avoid if:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou want a brightly coloured schooling fish.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou keep tiny shrimp or fry that you want to breed successfully.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour aquarium has no bottom cover or hiding places.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou keep large, aggressive or highly competitive tank mates.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"nta-box\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy choose the Dwarf Flathead Gudgeon?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nThe Dwarf Flathead Gudgeon is a fantastic example of how interesting Australia's smallest native fishes can be. Its broad head, relatively large mouth and mottled brown-grey colouration allow it to blend beautifully into sand, gravel, leaf litter and submerged timber.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nRather than constantly swimming through open water, these gudgeons spend much of their time close to the substrate, carefully observing their surroundings before darting forward to capture food. Their subtle behaviour becomes increasingly fascinating once you begin watching how they interact with their environment.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nAt only around 4–5 cm when mature, \u003cem\u003ePhilypnodon macrostomus\u003c\/em\u003e offers much of the character of the larger Flathead Gudgeon in a significantly smaller package, making it particularly interesting for compact Australian native displays.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"nta-box\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBenefits\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAustralian native freshwater species\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGenuinely small adult size\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDistinctive broad-headed appearance\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBeautiful natural camouflage\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFascinating ambush-feeding behaviour\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExcellent addition to smaller native Australian aquariums\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"nta-box nta-warning\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCare made simple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTemperature: Approximately 16–26°C\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003epH: Approximately 6.5–8.0\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDiet: Fine sinking carnivore pellets, frozen daphnia, baby brine shrimp, bloodworms, insect larvae and appropriately sized live foods\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWater: Clean, stable and well oxygenated\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSubstrate: Fine sand or smooth gravel\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSetup: Leaf litter, driftwood, smooth rocks, small caves and dense sheltered areas\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProvide plenty of bottom-level structure where individuals can hide and establish territories.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRemember that despite their small size, they are micropredators and may eat fry and very small shrimp.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"nta-box\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePairs perfectly with\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePacific Blue-eyes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSmall Australian Rainbowfish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFiretail Gudgeons\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOther appropriately sized peaceful native fishes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNatural aquascapes with leaf litter, rocks and driftwood\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"nta-highlight\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNTA Insight:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nDon't mistake small for boring. The Dwarf Flathead Gudgeon is essentially a miniature ambush predator, and much of its appeal comes from watching it behave naturally. A shallow-looking aquascape with fine substrate, leaf litter, timber and plenty of small territories allows these tiny native fish to disappear into the environment and suddenly reappear when food arrives.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"nta-box\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eWhat is the difference between the Flathead Gudgeon and Dwarf Flathead Gudgeon?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Dwarf Flathead Gudgeon (\u003cem\u003ePhilypnodon macrostomus\u003c\/em\u003e) is considerably smaller than the Flathead Gudgeon (\u003cem\u003ePhilypnodon grandiceps\u003c\/em\u003e). Both share a broad-headed, bottom-dwelling body shape, but the dwarf species is particularly suited to smaller native aquarium displays.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eIs the Dwarf Flathead Gudgeon an Australian native?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. \u003cem\u003ePhilypnodon macrostomus\u003c\/em\u003e is an Australian native freshwater species associated with waterways in south-eastern Australia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eAre Dwarf Flathead Gudgeons aggressive?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey are generally peaceful towards appropriately sized tank mates, but they are small predators. Fish fry, tiny crustaceans and other animals small enough to swallow may be eaten.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eWhat should I feed them?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOffer small sinking foods along with frozen or live foods such as daphnia, baby brine shrimp, bloodworms and insect larvae. Some newly introduced individuals may initially show a preference for moving foods.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eCan they live with shrimp?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdult shrimp may sometimes coexist with them, but small shrimp and shrimplets are potential prey. They are therefore not recommended for dedicated shrimp breeding aquariums.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eDo they need a heater?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot necessarily. They tolerate cooler conditions than typical tropical aquarium fish. In many Australian indoor aquariums, additional heating may not be required, provided temperatures remain within a suitable and reasonably stable range.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eCan they be kept in groups?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Small groups can be maintained when there is adequate floor space, structure and visual separation. Providing multiple hiding places reduces competition between individuals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eCan Dwarf Flathead Gudgeons breed in captivity?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. They can reproduce in aquariums when mature fish are provided with appropriate conditions and spawning sites. A separate breeding or grow-out setup will improve the survival of eggs and juveniles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n","brand":"APE","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43219324928209,"sku":null,"price":15.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0608\/5771\/2849\/files\/DwarfFlatheadGudgeon1.png?v=1785815702","url":"https:\/\/nanotanksaustralia.com.au\/products\/dwarf-flathead-gudgeon-philypnodon-macrostomus-2-4cm","provider":"Nano Tanks Australia","version":"1.0","type":"link"}