TankBud

Delicate blue-eye

Pseudomugil tenellus

FreshwaterFish

Delicate blue-eye (Pseudomugil tenellus)
(c) Tom Ferguson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by

Care at a glance

Temperature
77–90°F
25–32°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
2.2 in
5.5 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg depositor · Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Pseudomugilidae
Origin
Australia, New Guinea

Overview

The delicate blue-eye is a small, peaceful schooling fish for a warm, planted tank with gentle tank mates. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

Blue-eyes get their common name from the bright, reflective blue ring around the eye. It stands out even on a fish as small as the delicate blue-eye.

Caring for the delicate blue-eye

Keep delicate blue-eyes in a group of eight or more, in a tank of at least 20 gal (75 L). Give them soft light, plenty of fine-leaved and floating plants to weave through, and some leaf litter or wood. Keep the water calm and clean, with only gentle movement.

They like warm, soft, slightly acidic water, at 77 to 90°F (25 to 32°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Because they are little, offer small foods several times a day. Micro pellets, crushed flake, frozen cyclops and baby brine shrimp all suit them.

Delicate blue-eyes are peaceful and occupy the middle and upper water. Keep them with other tiny, gentle species that will not outcompete them at feeding time. In a group, the males flick their fins and show off their pale blue eyes and yellow-edged fins. They display to each other and to females with raised, spread fins, in brief, harmless standoffs rather than fights.

They scatter small eggs among fine plants and roots over a long spawning window, and give no parental care. The tiny fry need very small first foods, which makes breeding hard.

Good to know

Pseudomugil tenellus is a blue-eye in the family Pseudomugilidae. The name tenellus means delicate or tender, a fair description of this slight, short-lived fish.

In the wild

The delicate blue-eye lives in the tropical north, across the Top End of Australia and into southern New Guinea. It is found in clear, warm streams, lagoons and swampy pools among dense vegetation.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The delicate blue-eye is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a delicate blue-eye need?

A delicate blue-eye needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a delicate blue-eye need?

A delicate blue-eye is comfortable at 77–90°F (25–32°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a delicate blue-eye eat?

A delicate blue-eye eats small foods, such as micro pellets, crushed flake, frozen cyclops and baby brine shrimp. Because it is so little, feed it several times a day.

How big does a delicate blue-eye get?

An adult delicate blue-eye reaches about 2.2 in (5.5 cm).

Does a delicate blue-eye need a group?

Yes. A delicate blue-eye is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

How does a delicate blue-eye breed?

Delicate blue-eyes scatter small eggs among fine plants and roots over a long spawning window, with no parental care. The tiny fry need very small first foods, so breeding them is hard.

Related species