TankBud

Popondetta blue-eye

Pseudomugil connieae

Also known as Connie's blue-eye, Popondetta rainbowfish, Connie's rainbowfish

FreshwaterFish

Popondetta blue-eye (Pseudomugil connieae)

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
7.0–8.0
Adult size
2 in
5 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Top
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Egg depositor · Easy
Rarity
Common
Family
Pseudomugilidae
Origin
Endemic to a small area within about 50 km of Popondetta in eastern Papua New Guinea, in clear, moderately flowing rainforest and open streams.

Overview

The Popondetta blue-eye is a peaceful schooling fish for a planted community tank. It is easy to keep.

Did you know

The Popondetta blue-eye was long a hobby staple, known simply as the Popondetta after the town near its home streams.

Caring for the Popondetta blue-eye

Keep at least six to eight Popondetta blue-eyes, and preferably a dozen, in a tank of 11 gal (40 L) or more. Plant the tank but leave open swimming lanes, with some floating plants and a gentle current.

Unlike many blue-eyes, they prefer harder, alkaline water. Keep it at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C), with a slightly alkaline pH of 7.0 to 8.0. Feed small flake, micro pellets and frozen foods such as daphnia, cyclops and brine shrimp.

They are peaceful, and they mix well with other small, calm fish that enjoy similar hard water. Males carry taller, more colorful fins than females. Keep both sexes, since a mixed group keeps the males sparring and colorful as they flare their fins side by side.

They breed readily, scattering a few eggs each day among fine plants or spawning mops. They spawn over a long period rather than in one big batch. That makes them one of the easiest blue-eyes to raise.

Good to know

Pseudomugil connieae is a blue-eye in the family Pseudomugilidae, also known as Connie's blue-eye. It is one of the larger and hardier blue-eyes, which made it popular with breeders.

In the wild

Popondetta blue-eyes are endemic to a small area within about 50 km of Popondetta, in eastern Papua New Guinea. They live in clear, moderate to fairly quick streams, both shaded by rainforest and open to the sun, over gravel and among plants. They shoal near the surface and constantly flick their yellow-edged fins.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Popondetta blue-eye is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the top. 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 Popondetta blue-eye need?

A Popondetta blue-eye needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the top.

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

A Popondetta blue-eye is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.0.

What does a Popondetta blue-eye eat?

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

How big does a Popondetta blue-eye get?

An adult Popondetta blue-eye reaches about 2 in (5 cm).

Does a Popondetta blue-eye need a group?

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

How can you tell a male Popondetta blue-eye from a female?

Males carry taller, more colorful fins than females.

How does a Popondetta blue-eye breed?

Popondetta blue-eyes breed readily, scattering a few eggs each day among fine plants or spawning mops over a long period. That makes them one of the easiest blue-eyes to raise.

Related species