TankBud

Swamp blue-eye

Pseudomugil paludicola

Also known as Swamp blue-eye rainbowfish, Yellow Fin Blue Eye Rainbow

FreshwaterFish

Swamp blue-eye (Pseudomugil paludicola)

Care at a glance

Temperature
79–86°F
26–30°C
pH
7.0–8.0
Adult size
1.4 in
3.5 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Top
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Pseudomugilidae
Origin
Southwestern Papua New Guinea

Overview

A school of eight or more suits it in 40 liters and up, kept warm and calm. It is peaceful and easily outcompeted, so pair it only with small, gentle tankmates or keep a species tank. Feed fine live and frozen foods and crushed flake. Tank-raised fish appear occasionally from specialist importers, and it remains one of the least seen blue-eyes in the hobby.

In the wild

The swamp blue-eye lives up to its name, inhabiting lowland swamps, oxbows, and slow tributaries in southwestern Papua New Guinea. The water there is warm, still, and heavily vegetated. Run its tank warmer than for most blue-eyes, 26 to 30 degrees Celsius, with a pH of 7.0 to 8.0, dense planting, floating cover, and little to no flow.

Good to know

Pseudomugil paludicola was described by Allen and Moore in 1981, and the name means swamp dweller. At about 3.5 centimeters it is among the smaller blue-eyes, semi-translucent with yellow on the front of the anal fin, the tail base, and the edge of the second dorsal fin in males. It scatters eggs low in the tank on moss and mops, and spawning has been reported in both acidic and alkaline water.

Did you know

Most blue-eyes come from flowing streams, but this one is a true swamp fish that likes its water warm and still, closer to 30 degrees than most of its relatives will ever see.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

Swamp 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 Swamp blue-eye need?

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

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

A Swamp blue-eye is comfortable at 79–86°F (26–30°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.0.

How big does a Swamp blue-eye get?

An adult Swamp blue-eye reaches about 1.4 in (3.5 cm).

Does a Swamp blue-eye need a group?

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

Related species