{"product_id":"flathead-gudgeon-philypnodon-grandiceps-2-4cm","title":"Flathead Gudgeon (Philypnodon grandiceps) 2-4cm","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"nta-product\"\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"nta-title\"\u003e\nFlathead Gudgeon (\u003cem\u003ePhilypnodon grandiceps\u003c\/em\u003e)\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp class=\"nta-tagline\"\u003e\nSubtle, fascinating and unmistakably Australian, the Flathead Gudgeon is a distinctive native freshwater fish with a broad flattened head, beautifully mottled camouflage and an ambush-predator personality. Rather than relying on bright colours, \u003cem\u003ePhilypnodon grandiceps\u003c\/em\u003e rewards the aquarist with natural behaviour, character and the opportunity to keep one of Australia's genuinely interesting native gudgeons.\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 grandiceps\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCommon name: Flathead Gudgeon\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOrigin: South-eastern Australia\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCurrent size: Approximately 4–7 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdult size: Commonly around 8–12 cm, with larger individuals possible\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTank size: 80L+ recommended\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDifficulty: 🟢 Easy to Moderate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTemperament: Generally peaceful but predatory towards sufficiently small animals\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBest kept: Singly or in small groups with appropriately sized tank mates and plenty of 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 want to keep an Australian native freshwater species.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou enjoy fish with interesting natural behaviour rather than highly selected colouration.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou like bottom-dwelling ambush predators with plenty of personality.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou are creating a native Australian or natural-style 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 keep very small fish or shrimp that could fit into its mouth.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou want a colourful schooling fish.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour aquarium has no shelter or bottom structure.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou intend to mix it with 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 Flathead Gudgeon?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nThe Flathead Gudgeon is a fish for aquarists who appreciate behaviour as much as colour. Its broad head, large mouth and mottled brown, olive and grey pattern provide excellent camouflage against rocks, timber and leaf litter.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nRather than constantly swimming through open water, Flathead Gudgeons often remain close to the substrate or structure, carefully watching their surroundings before suddenly moving to investigate food or activity nearby. This sit-and-wait behaviour reflects their natural predatory lifestyle.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\nTheir unusual body shape and distinctly Australian character make them an excellent addition to native displays, particularly aquariums designed to resemble local creeks, rivers and wetlands.\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\u003eDistinctive broad, flattened head\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBeautiful natural camouflage pattern\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFascinating ambush-predator behaviour\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHardy once established\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExcellent feature fish for 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: Quality sinking carnivore pellets, frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, insect larvae, worms and appropriately sized live or frozen 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: Driftwood, smooth rocks, caves, leaf litter and sheltered areas\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProvide plenty of bottom structure where the fish can rest, hide and establish territories.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChoose tank mates carefully—anything sufficiently small may be considered food.\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\u003eAustralian Rainbowfish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLarger Blue-eyes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEmpire Gudgeons\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOther appropriately sized Australian native fishes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNatural aquascapes with driftwood, rocks and native-style planting\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\nThe Flathead Gudgeon isn't a fish you buy because you want constant colour and movement—it is a fish you keep because you appreciate natural behaviour. Watch one carefully and you'll see an efficient little ambush predator using its camouflage, broad head and surprisingly large mouth exactly as it would in an Australian waterway. Give it structure, cover and appropriately sized food and it becomes a fascinating aquarium resident.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"nta-box\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eIs the Flathead Gudgeon an Australian native?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. \u003cem\u003ePhilypnodon grandiceps\u003c\/em\u003e is native to south-eastern Australia and occurs in a variety of freshwater habitats including rivers, creeks, lakes and wetlands.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eHow large do Flathead Gudgeons grow?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMany aquarium specimens remain around 8–12 cm, although larger individuals can occur. Their relatively large mouth also means tank mates should be chosen based on body size rather than length alone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eAre Flathead Gudgeons aggressive?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey are not typically aggressive community fish in the conventional sense, but they are predators. Small fish, fry, shrimp and other animals that can fit into their mouth 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 a varied carnivorous diet including quality sinking pellets, frozen bloodworms, insect larvae, worms, brine shrimp and other appropriately sized foods. Newly introduced fish may show a stronger preference for frozen or live foods before accepting prepared diets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eCan Flathead Gudgeons live with shrimp?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey are not recommended for shrimp breeding aquariums. Small shrimp and shrimplets are potential prey, and even larger shrimp may be investigated depending on the size of the gudgeon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eDo Flathead Gudgeons need a heater?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot necessarily. As an Australian temperate freshwater species, they tolerate cooler conditions than many tropical fish. Stability is more important than maintaining a high tropical temperature, and extreme or rapid temperature changes should be avoided.\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, provided the aquarium offers sufficient floor space, shelter and visual barriers. Monitor individuals for territorial behaviour and make sure each fish has access to suitable resting and hiding areas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eCan Flathead Gudgeons breed in aquariums?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. They can reproduce in captivity when mature fish are maintained under suitable conditions and provided with appropriate spawning sites. A dedicated breeding setup gives eggs and juveniles the best chance of survival.\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":43218633654481,"sku":null,"price":10.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0608\/5771\/2849\/files\/FlatheadGudgeon1.png?v=1785792139","url":"https:\/\/nanotanksaustralia.com.au\/products\/flathead-gudgeon-philypnodon-grandiceps-2-4cm","provider":"Nano Tanks Australia","version":"1.0","type":"link"}