All fish / Pseudomugilidae

Honey blue-eye

Pseudomugil mellis

Also known as honey blue eye, honey blue-eye rainbowfish, honey blueeye, honey blue eye rainbow, ハニー・ブルーアイ, 蜜蓝眼燕鱼

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A tiny blue-eye with a honey to amber body, bright blue eyes and black-edged fins in mature males. It suits soft, acidic, planted nano tanks and is kept for its lively display behaviour and conservation interest.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

2.5 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

5 to 7

Smallest tank

40 litres

Keep as

Group of 6 or more, ideally with more females than males

Diet

Carnivore: small live and frozen foods such as daphnia, cyclops, brine shrimp and microworms, plus fine flake

Swims

Top of the tank

Lifespan

1 to 3 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Coastal wallum streams and lakes of south-eastern Queensland, Australia

Breeding

An egg scatterer that lays a few eggs daily among fine plants or spawning mops over several weeks. Eggs and fry can be separated and raised on infusoria, and breeding is fairly straightforward once water is soft and acidic.

Good to know

Listed as Endangered in the wild due to habitat loss in its tiny wallum range, so buy captive-bred stock. Too small and timid for tanks with boisterous fish.