Pacific Blue Eye 3cm

Pacific Blue Eye

Pseudomugils or blue eyes are a fantastic nano rainbowfish consideration because of their flashy aesthetic, small size, and relatively hardy nature. These would make for a great beginner fish or a great option for aquarists looking to enter the rainbowfish world. There are many different species of blue eye rainbows but easily the most common would be the Pacific blue eye. These are also fish that are frequently seen in full marine conditions which is an amazing adaptation. If you have a brackish, soft coral or macro algae tank and are looking for a perfect schooling fish, then the Pacific blue eye would be a fantastic consideration.

The pacific blue eye is one of the large blue eye species reaching around 7 cm which is still really small. They have a beautiful cream body colour that gradually develops into a honey yellow near the tail. The fins also carry this vibrant yellow but offer additional contrast with a jet-black rim and a white tip. Especially in males, when the dorsal and ventral fin are flared out they can almost look like butterflies on the fish. Finally, the most characteristic factor of this fish is the fluro blue colour of the eye which earns the name blue eye.

These fish display amazingly when kept in schools and are easily bred in the home aquarium given the right conditions. The added benefit is that they are native Australian fish which is always a bonus. Once they reach maturity, blue eyes will breed on an almost daily basis. Though you can simply leave the parents in a dedicated planted display aquarium and hope for the fry to survive, the best luck is achieved when setting up a breeding system. Aquarists will usually have these fish in a bare aquarium with spawning mops which are rotated out daily to harvest the eggs which can then be hatched elsewhere. Males tend to be larger than females by around 1-2 cm when mature and have larger find and deeper bodies. Females will be a light yellow colour when compared to the brighter males.

Tank Recommendations for your Pacific Blue Eye
Being a very small and easy to care for fish the Pacific blue eye can be kept in nano aquariums with the minimum being a 37 litre system. These fish are mostly middle to top-dwelling and will appreciate a longer tank to supplement their active behaviour.

A tight-fitting lid is also required because the pacific blue eye has a high risk of jumping out. Though the hardscape and substrate are not a major concern, the Pacific Blue eye will love a planted tank. Pacific Blue eyes can be kept on the cooler side and go as low as 15 degrees but the ideal temperature range would be between 24-26 degrees.

Suitable Tank Buddies
Being a small and peaceful fish the Pacific blue eye is a very easy fish to pair with other tank mates. They can be kept in aquariums with other dwarf rainbow fish or in mixed community aquariums.

Usually Compatible
Pseudomogil species such as forktail, neon, and delicate blue eyes along with other small community fish like tetras, rasboras, and similar species.

Sometimes Compatible
Medium sizes growing rainbows such as Lacustris rainbows, and Murray River rainbows, and medium-sized community fish like angelfish or gouramis. There is a risk that the mild territorial behaviour that angelfish or similar species display can harm the blue eyes over a period of time.

Rarely Compatible
Large and aggressive species that would prey on the Pacific blue-eye rainbow such as Oscars, or Jaguar Cichlids.

Feeding your Pacific Blue Eye
The pacific blue eye is very easy to feed once it is settled into the aquarium. It will readily eat a wide range of foods but would prefer to have high-protein foods like frozen bloodworms, Mysis shrimp, or live foods such as brine shrimp or black worms. This however can be substituted with good-quality flakes or nano-floating pellets.