All fish / Pseudomugilidae

Pacific blue-eye

Pseudomugil signifer

Also known as pacific blue eye, southern blue-eye, blue-eye, signifer blue eye, pseudomugil signifer, pacific blueeye, blue eye rainbowfish, シグニファー, シグニファーレインボー, 太平洋蓝眼, 蓝眼燕子

A small, slim fish with bright blue eyes and pale yellowish or silvery bodies, with males showing yellow, white and black edged fins that they flare at each other in display. It is kept for its lively behaviour near the surface and its tolerance of a wide range of water conditions, which makes it a good choice for planted nano tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

4 cm

Temperature

20 to 28 °C

pH

7 to 8

Smallest tank

40 litres

Keep as

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

Diet

Omnivore: small live and frozen foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp and cyclops, plus fine flakes and micro pellets

Swims

Top of the tank

Lifespan

1 to 3 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Eastern Australia, coastal streams and estuaries from northern Queensland to southern New South Wales

Breeding

Spawns continuously, with females scattering a few sticky eggs each day among fine plants or spawning mops. Eggs hatch in roughly one to three weeks and the fry need infusoria or very fine foods at first; breeding is easy if eggs are moved away from adults, which eat them.

Good to know

Tolerates fresh to slightly brackish water but prefers harder, alkaline conditions; males squabble constantly, so provide plenty of females and plant cover. Wild populations vary in colour, so keep local forms separate where possible.