Mouth Almighty

Scientific Name

Glossamia aprion

Other Common Names

Queensland mouthbrooder, Gill's cardinalfish, flabby, stinker

Size

To 180 mm, 600 g in northern Australia, to 150 mm in southern waters.

Conservation Status

Abundant, widespread throughout its range.

Habitat

Strictly a freshwater species although most other members of its group are marine.  Found in dense vegetation in streams, ponds and reservoirs.

Distribution

Coastal drainages in in northern Australia from northern Western Australia, across the Northern Territory and Queensland to northern New South Wales.  Also found in the southern rivers of Papua New Guinea.

Reproduction

Spawns in summer at water temperatures of about 22°C.  The eggs are about 3 mm across and laid in a packet surrounded by a thin membrane.  The male incubates the eggs in his mouth.

Diet

Carnivorous, eats a variety of small fish and invertebrates.

Angling

Not generally considered an angling species due to its size.

On the table

Quite good eating despite its usually small size.

In the aquarium

Difficult to keep in an aquarium.  Prone to fungal infection after handling.  Tolerates water temperatures up to 38°C and pH levels from 4.5 to 8.