I Bred an Endangered Fish: Can I Keep Them Alive? | Purple Spotted Gudgeon Fry‑Raising Guide

I Bred an Endangered Fish: Can I Keep Them Alive? (DALUA Fishroom)

Australia’s native Purple Spotted Gudgeon is disappearing from our waterways — but inside DALUA Fishroom, this endangered species is getting a second chance. After already breeding three generations of these incredible fish, the real challenge begins: keeping their tiny fry alive through the first few critical weeks.

In this video, DALUA Fishroom walks through the exact process used to successfully breed, hatch, and raise these endangered fish — a method any dedicated aquarist can learn from.

Breeding Setup & Spawning Triggers

The adults are conditioned with high‑quality foods and kept in warm, clean water. Warmer temperatures combined with daily water changes reliably trigger spawning. The male guards the eggs until they’re ready to move.

Once the eggs are laid, they’re transferred into a breeder box to protect them and ensure stable water conditions.

Hatching & First Foods

This is where things get difficult.

The fry are extremely small — their mouths can only accept microscopic foods. DALUA Fishroom shares a precise feeding timeline from day 1 to week 2, ensuring the fry eat enough without polluting the water. Clean water + tiny frequent meals = survival.

A clever trick shown in the video: checking whether fry have actually eaten by observing their stomach coloration.

Water Quality = Survival

Excess food can destroy water quality fast. The balance between feeding enough and keeping water pristine is the biggest factor in fry survival. DALUA Fishroom uses a dedicated fry‑raising system to grow them out safely.