All fish / Pseudomugilidae

Delicate Blue-eye

Pseudomugil tenellus

Also known as delicate blue eye, delicate blue-eye rainbowfish, tenellus blue eye, delicate blueeye, シュードムギル・テネルス, 精致蓝眼燕

A tiny, slender blue-eye with a translucent silvery body, bright blue eyes and males that show long, black-edged and yellow-tinted dorsal and anal fins. Males display to each other constantly, which makes a small group in a planted nano tank very lively to watch.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

3 cm

Temperature

24 to 30 °C

pH

6.5 to 8

Smallest tank

40 litres

Keep as

Group of 6 or more, with more females than males

Diet

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

Swims

Top of the tank

Lifespan

1 to 2 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Northern Australia (Northern Territory, Arnhem Land rivers) and southern New Guinea (Fly River area)

Breeding

Spawns continuously, scattering a few eggs each day among fine plants or spawning mops. Eggs can be moved to a separate container to hatch in around 10 to 14 days, and the fry need infusoria or other very fine foods; it is fairly easy to breed but the stock is short-lived, so regular breeding keeps a line going.

Good to know

Very small and timid, so keep it only with similar-sized peaceful fish and avoid strong currents. Its short lifespan means groups die out quickly unless they are bred.