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Genus

Pseudomugil

Species
6
Photographed
6 of 6
Difficulty rated
6 of 6
Adult male individual; population unspecified.

Pseudomugil cyanodorsalisNeon Blue-eye

Allen & Sarti, 1983

Max length
35mm SL1.4in SL
Tank
45 × 30cm18 × 12in
Temp
21–31°C70–88°F
pH
7.0–8.5

Euryhaline and thus capable of withstanding significant fluctuations in salinity and other water conditions. It's been recorded in full marine conditions as well as pure freshwater environments, and commonly inhabits coastal mangrove creeks and swamps. Such changes may occur on a daily or seasonal basis depending on locality, with some habitats influenced by daily tides whereas others become hypersal...

Easy
Adult male specimen from the aquarium trade; aggressive mood.

Pseudomugil furcatusForktail Blue-eye

Nichols, 1955

Max length
60mm SL2.4in SL
Tank
60 × 30cm24 × 12in
Temp
24–28°C75–82°F
pH
7.0–8.0

This species is also traded as 'forktail rainbowfish' or 'yellow forktail', and it's also undergone several changes in scientific name since description. Pseudomugil furcatus is the original designation, but Allen (1980) created the genus Popondetta for it on the basis of morphological characters including number of anal-fin rays (16-20 in P. furcatus, 8-12 in other Pseudomugil spp.), absence of anterior...

Easy
Adult pair from the aquarium trade; female upper.

Pseudomugil gertrudaeSpotted Blue-eye

Weber, 1911

Max length
38mm SL1.5in SL
Tank
45 × 30cm18 × 12in
Temp
21–28°C70–82°F
pH
4.5–7.5

Described from 'Rivulet in sago forest at Ngaiguli, Terangan, Aru Island, Aru Islands, Maluku, Indonesia', corresponding to the island now normally referred to as 'Trangan' in the Aru Islands group, eastern Indonesia. The islands are located in the Arafura Sea, with western New Guinea to the north and the Arnhem Land Region of Australia's Northern Territory to the south, and though they lie within Maluku province of eastern Indonesia, are part of the Australian continent in a geological sense.

Easy
Males will spar often if present in numbers.

Pseudomugil signiferPacific Blue-eye

Kner, 1866

Max length
70mm SL2.8in SL
Tank
60 × 30cm24 × 12in
Temp
20–26°C68–79°F
pH
6.5–7.5

Generally found within 15-20 km of the sea but habitat-type is extremely variable. It's been recorded in full marine conditions as well as pure freshwater environments, and commonly inhabits coastal mangrove creeks, swamps, and salt marshes. Freshwater habitats tend to comprise lowland swamps or forest streams with clear water but some populations inhabit acidic, tannin-stained, black waters. It's also abundant in the artificial canals typical of residential zones in the Gold Coast, southern Queensland.

Easy
Adult male specimen.

Pseudomugil sp. 'red neon'

authority not recorded

Max length
35mm SL1.4in SL
Tank
45 × 30cm18 × 12in
Temp
18–26°C64–79°F
pH
6.5–7.5

This fish first appeared in the aquarium hobby in 2011 and has been traded under various names including P. sp. cf. paskai, P. sp. 'red orange neon', P. sp. 'neon orange', P. sp. 'Irian' and P. 'iriani'. The majority of fish available tend to be male, presumably due to their brighter colour pattern. It was initially suspected to be a hybrid or sele...

Easy
Two adult males; population unspecified.

Pseudomugil tenellusDelicate Blue-eye

Taylor, 1964

Max length
55mm SL2.2in SL
Tank
75 × 30cm30 × 12in
Temp
25–32°C77–90°F
pH
5.5–7.5

Euryhaline and mostly inhabits coastal floodplains where it's found in both fresh and brackish habitats, including tidal estuaries and salt marshes. It's particularly common in swamps, billabongs, and slow-moving streams where aquatic vegetation grows densely, but some populations have colonised upper sections of freshwater streams. Larger individuals may also move into main river channels. Tappin (2010) gives the following ranges of parameters based on those taken from various localities: temperature 27 - 38 °C, pH 5...

Easy