All fish / Pseudomugilidae

Swamp blue-eye

Pseudomugil paludicola

Also known as swamp blue eye, swamp blueeye, paludicola blue-eye, swamp blue-eye rainbowfish

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A tiny, slender blue-eye with a translucent silvery body, bright blue eyes and pale yellowish fins, with males showing small white fin edging when displaying. It is kept by enthusiasts of nano tanks and rare killifish-like species for its lively displaying and its rarity in the hobby.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

2.5 cm

Temperature

24 to 30 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

40 litres

Keep as

Group of 8 or more, ideally more females than males

Diet

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

Swims

Top of the tank

Lifespan

1 to 3 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Southern New Guinea (Papua New Guinea and Indonesian Papua), coastal swamps and lowland streams

Breeding

Pairs or groups scatter a few eggs daily over fine-leaved plants or spawning mops, and the eggs hatch in about 10 to 20 days. Breeding is not difficult, but the fry are minute and need infusoria or similar very fine food at first, and adults will eat eggs.

Good to know

Very small and short-lived, so keep only with other tiny peaceful fish and maintain a breeding colony to keep the line going. It is rarely available and is easily confused with other small Pseudomugil species such as P. gertrudae or P. tenellus.