TankBud

Pacific blue-eye

Pseudomugil signifer

Also known as Southern Blue Eye Rainbow

FreshwaterBrackishFish

Pacific blue-eye (Pseudomugil signifer)
Casliber · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–79°F
20–26°C
pH
6.5–8.0
Adult size
2.8 in
7 cm
Minimum tank
25 gal
95 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg depositor · Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Pseudomugilidae
Origin
Australia

Overview

The Pacific blue-eye is a small, peaceful schooling fish for a clean, planted community tank. It needs a little more care than the easiest fish.

Did you know

Pacific blue-eyes vary so much along the Australian coast that scientists have long debated whether they are one species or several. Fish from warmer northern rivers grow noticeably larger than those from the cooler south.

Caring for the Pacific blue-eye

Keep Pacific blue-eyes in a group of eight or more, in a tank of at least 25 gal (95 L). Give them a fine substrate, plants around the edges and some wood. They like clean, planted water that moves gently.

Pacific blue-eyes tolerate a range of conditions, including fresh or brackish water. They handle neutral to slightly hard water, at 68 to 79°F (20 to 26°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 8.0. Feed small foods such as micro pellets, crushed flake, frozen cyclops, daphnia and baby brine shrimp.

They are peaceful and keep to the middle and upper water. Keep them with other gentle, small companions rather than anything large or nippy. In a group, the males show off their bright blue eyes and yellow-tipped fins to one another. They display with spread fins and compete in color rather than fighting.

Pacific blue-eyes scatter small eggs among fine plants and roots over a long spawning period, and give no care. The very small fry make breeding hard.

Good to know

Pseudomugil signifer is a blue-eye in the family Pseudomugilidae. FishBase lists a maximum of about 7 centimeters, though most fish stay closer to 3 to 4 centimeters. It also goes by the southern blue eye rainbow.

In the wild

The Pacific blue-eye ranges along the eastern coast of Australia, from Queensland into New South Wales. It lives in coastal streams, estuaries and pools, sometimes where fresh water meets a little salt.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Pacific 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 Pacific blue-eye need?

A Pacific blue-eye needs at least 25 gal (95 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

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

A Pacific blue-eye is comfortable at 68–79°F (20–26°C) with a pH of 6.5–8.0.

What does a Pacific blue-eye eat?

A Pacific blue-eye eats small foods such as micro pellets, crushed flake, frozen cyclops, daphnia and baby brine shrimp.

How big does a Pacific blue-eye get?

An adult Pacific blue-eye reaches about 2.8 in (7 cm).

Does a Pacific blue-eye need a group?

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

How does a Pacific blue-eye breed?

Pacific blue-eyes scatter small eggs among fine plants and roots over a long spawning period, and give no care. The very small fry make breeding hard.

Related species