▷ Spotted Blue Eyes in the Aquarium | All information and details

Datasheet Spotted Blue-Eye

German name:
Spotted Blue Eye

Scientific name:
Pseudomugil gertrudae

Origin:
Australia, Oceania, Asia

Size:
Body length 3cm – 4cm

Aquarium

Length:
Length from 60 cm width

Contents:
from 54 liters

water values

Temperature:
22°- 26° C

pH:
6 – 8

GH:
3° – 15° dH

Behave

Area:
mean free water

Lining:
preferably live food, frozen food, dry food also possible

Behave:
sociable, peaceful, lively

Number:
Shoal fish, small school of 6 – 10 animals

Difficulty level:
Beginner

Look

The rainbow fish (discussion), Pseudomugil gertrudae ARUII male, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE

The spotted blue-eye is an elongated fish, usually about three to four centimeters in size, which has a golden-yellowish basic color and often shimmers grey-silver. The most striking are the blue colored eyes. The pectoral fins of the animals are yellowish, whitish or can also have a reddish color depending on where they were found.

Posture recommendation

The spotted blue-eye is a fairly small fish and very agile and swimmers, so there should be enough free swimming space available. Aquariums with a capacity of at least 54 liters are ideal, more would be better. The fish prefer to swim in schools, a group of six to ten animals is ideal. The spotted blue-eye is very peaceful, which is why it is ideal for socializing with other fish species. In addition, it is an ideal beginner’s fish because it can be kept in the aquarium without any problems.

gender differences

The spotted blue eyes show some gender differences. The males are more colorful overall and therefore much more attractive. They have colored fin tips and are covered with regularly arranged, dark spots. In addition, the males are somewhat higher backed and show enlarged fins. During courtship, they dance with their long pectoral fins like butterflies in front of the females, which is why they are also often referred to as «butterflies in aquaristics». The females are often spherical and their color is much paler.

breed

The courtship behavior of the male towards the female can be described as very intense. The male circles it, nudging its flank while spreading its large pectoral fins to attract attention. When the female is ready to spawn, the pairs retire in the dense thicket of plants.

The Spotted Blue-Eyes are detention spawners. They prefer to lay their eggs in fine-leaved plant species (including java moss). Alternatively, a spawning mop can be hung in the tank, which makes it easier to collect the many eggs. Brood care is not practiced by this fish species. The young hatch after about two to four weeks. Because they are relatively small, they are often eaten in aquariums by larger fish of their kind.

socialization

The spotted blue-eye is an extremely peaceful aquarium fish and is therefore also very well suited to socializing with numerous other fish species. Ideally, the spotted blue-eye lives in a group with at least six to ten animals, as it is very sociable.