The Spotted Blue-eye is a stunning freshwater fish that is perfect for the beginner aquarist. They are easy to care for and can live in a variety of different water conditions.
This guide will teach you everything you need to know about Spotted Blue-eye care. You’ll learn about their diet, size, lifespan, and more!
Table of contents
Species overview
The Spotted Blue-eye (Pseudomugil gertrudae) is a small freshwater fish that is found in a few different places across New Guinea.
They prefer slow-moving waters that are heavily vegetated. This could be in the form of a river, creek, or even a swamp.
The Spotted Blue-eye is a peaceful fish that does well in a community tank. They are known to be compatible with a wide variety of different fish species.
This fish gets its name from the blue spots that are present on its body. These spots are more prominent on the males of the species and are used to attract mates. The females are typically a duller color.
Appearance
The first thing that you’ll notice about this species is their bright blue eyes. These eyes have little black spots in the center that really stand out against their light blue irises.
The body of the Spotted blue-eye is long, thin, and slightly curved. They have a small mouth that’s situated at the end of a long snout.
The fins on this fish are all relatively small. The dorsal fin is the longest and it starts about halfway back on their body. The anal fin is similar in size and shape, and it’s located just behind the ventral fins.
Both of these fins are short and end before the caudal peduncle. The caudal fin is forked and symmetrical on both sides.
The pectoral fins on this fish are small and located just behind the gill plates.
One of the more unique things about the Spotted blue-eye is their coloration. The body of this fish is a pale blue that fades to white on their belly.
The fins are all clear with little black spots dotting them. These spots are more numerous on the dorsal and caudal fins.
Lifespan
Spotted blue-eye fishes have a lifespan of around 2-3 years in captivity. In the wild, their lifespan may be shorter due to predation and other factors.
The lifespan of your fish can be impacted by a number of different factors. For example, if they are kept in poor water conditions their lifespan will be shortened.
Likewise, if they are constantly stressed by bad tank mates or a suboptimal diet, their lifespan will also be reduced.
Size
The Spotted Blue-eye grows to a maximum length of around 4 cm.
Tank
Tank Size
The recommended tank size for a spotted blue-eye is at least 55 gallons. This is assuming you want to keep them in a school of at least 5 fish. If you want to keep more fish, you’ll need an additional 5 to 10 gallons per fish.
Spotted blue-eye fish are semi-aggressive and can be territorial, so it’s important to provide them with enough space to avoid aggression and stress.
Water Parameters
Spotted blue-eye fish are not terribly demanding when it comes to water parameters. They are found in a variety of habitats in their native Australia, including slow-moving streams, ponds, and even billabongs (a type of stagnant pool).
This gives them a bit of leeway when it comes to water quality and temperature. That being said, they do prefer slightly warmer water and may become sluggish if the temperature dips too low.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to Spotted blue-eye fish and water parameters.
- Water temperature: 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit
- pH levels: 6.5 to 7.5
- Water hardness: 2 to 12 dGH
- Alkalinity Levels: 4-8 dKH
What To Put In Their Tank
Spotted blue-eye are a species of freshwater fish that are native to Australia. They’re a peaceful fish that do well in community tanks.
When it comes to setting up the inside of their aquarium there are a few things you’ll want to consider.
The first is the substrate. These fish like to dig around a bit, so you’ll want something that’s not too sharp. Sand or small gravel should work well.
The second is plants. These fish are known to eat plants, so you’ll want to choose something that’s hardy and can bounce back from a little nibbling. Hornwort, water wisteria, and Java moss are all good choices.
You can also add some driftwood or rocks to their tank. Just make sure that any rocks you use are smooth and won’t hurt the fish if they bump into them.
Common Diseases
The Spotted blue-eye is a very hardy and disease-resistant fish. They’re not immune to sickness, but they’re not as susceptible as some other species.
The most common disease that these fish experience is ich. This is a very contagious disease that’s caused by a parasite. It can cause a lot of problems if it’s not treated quickly.
The most obvious sign of ich is the presence of white spots on the body of your fish. If you see this, it’s important to take action immediately.
There are a number of other potential diseases that these fish can experience, but they’re not as common. Some of the other possibilities include bacterial infections, viruses, and parasites.
As with any other fish, the best way to prevent these diseases is by maintaining a clean and stable tank. This will create an environment that’s less conducive to illness and will give your fish a better chance to fight off any potential diseases.
Behavior & Temperament
The Spotted Blue-eye is a peaceful and relatively shy fish. It prefers to stay in groups and is often found in the company of other Blue-eyes. The Spotted Blue-eye is not an aggressive fish and is unlikely to bother other tank mates.
This fish is a bottom-dweller and prefers to stay hidden among the plants and rocks in the tank. When it feels threatened, the Spotted Blue-eye will quickly swim to a hiding place.
The Spotted Blue-eye is a peaceful and relatively shy fish. It prefers to stay in groups and is often found in the company of other Blue-eyes. The Spotted Blue-eye is not an aggressive fish and is unlikely to bother other tank mates.
This fish is a bottom-dweller and prefers to stay hidden among the plants and rocks in the tank. When it feels threatened, the Spotted Blue-eye will quickly swim to a hiding place.
Tank Mates
Spotted blue-eye fish are peaceful by nature. They’re not going to bother other fish and can even get along with small shrimp and snails.
The only time you might have an issue is if you house them with larger, more aggressive fish. These fish can be bullied and might not do well in a tank with fin nippers.
With that said, there are still plenty of compatible tank mates to choose from. Here are some of the best:
- Neon Tetra
- Cardinal Tetra
- Rummy Nose Tetra
- Ghost Shrimp
- Cherry Shrimp
- Amano Shrimp
- White Clouds
- Guppies
- Mollies
Breeding
Spotted blue-eye fry have very high survival rates if you can provide them with the right conditions. In the wild, these fish lay their eggs in caves or amongst rocks. The fry hatch and are then swept out to sea where they live off of plankton until they are big enough to return to shore.
To recreate this in your aquarium, you will need to set up a breeding tank. The tank should be at least 30 gallons and have a sandy bottom. You will also need to add some rocks or caves for the adults to lay their eggs in.
The water temperature should be between 74 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. The pH should be between 8.0 and 8.4.
When you are ready to breed your fish, add two adults to the tank. It is best to have one male and one female, but you can also add two males. The males will compete for the female’s attention and this can sometimes trigger spawning.
Once the eggs have been laid, the male will guard them. He will also fan them with his fins to keep them oxygenated.
The eggs will hatch in about two weeks. Once they hatch, you can remove the adults from the tank. The fry will live off of the algae in the tank until they are big enough to eat baby brine shrimp.
You can also add some live plants to the tank. The fry will graze on the plants and this will help to keep the water clean.
Conclusion
Spotted blue-eye care is not difficult, but there are a few things you need to be aware of.
First and foremost, these fish do best in groups. They are very social creatures and will do much better when they have others of their own kind to interact with.
Second, they need a lot of hiding places. This can be achieved with plants, driftwood, and rocks.
Finally, they are sensitive to changes in water quality. This means you need to be vigilant about your water changes and monitoring your water parameters.
Other than that, these fish are relatively easy to care for and make great additions to community tanks.
