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
Egg scatterer · Medium
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Pseudomugilidae
Origin
Southwestern Papua New Guinea

Overview

The swamp blue-eye is a small, peaceful schooling fish for a warm, densely planted tank. It is best kept by someone with some experience.

Did you know

Most blue-eyes come from flowing streams, but the swamp blue-eye is a true swamp fish. It likes its water warm and still, closer to 86°F (30°C) than most of its relatives will ever see.

Caring for the swamp blue-eye

Keep a school of eight or more swamp blue-eyes in a tank of at least 11 gal (40 L). Plant it densely, with floating cover and little to no flow, and keep the tank calm.

Keep the water warm, at 79 to 86°F (26 to 30°C), with a pH of 7.0 to 8.0. Feed fine live and frozen foods and crushed flake.

Swamp blue-eyes are peaceful and easily outcompeted. Pair them only with small, gentle tank mates, or keep a species tank. Males show yellow on the front of the anal fin, on the tail base and along the edge of the second dorsal fin.

They scatter eggs low in the tank, on moss and mops. Spawning has been reported in both acidic and alkaline water, and breeding is rated medium.

Good to know

Pseudomugil paludicola was described by Allen and Moore in 1981, and the name means swamp dweller. It is among the smaller blue-eyes, with a semi-translucent body. 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, in lowland swamps, oxbows and slow tributaries of southwestern Papua New Guinea. Its home waters are heavily vegetated.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The 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.

What does a swamp blue-eye eat?

A swamp blue-eye eats fine live and frozen foods, along with crushed flake.

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.

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

Males show yellow on the front of the anal fin, on the tail base and along the edge of the second dorsal fin.

How does a swamp blue-eye breed?

Swamp blue-eyes scatter their eggs low in the tank, on moss and mops. Spawning has been reported in both acidic and alkaline water.

Related species