Identity and search names

Common name
Pacific blue-eye
Scientific name
Pseudomugil signifer
Other names
Pacific blue-eye, Pacific blue eye, Blue-eye, Pseudomugil signifer
Category
Freshwater fish
Group
Rainbowfish and blue-eyes
Origin
Coastal eastern Australia from the Gulf of Carpentaria and Torres Strait through Queensland to southern New South Wales, in fresh to estuarine habitats
Review outcome
PASSED

Environment and housing

Environment
Freshwater
Care level
Beginner to intermediate
Adult size
Usually 4–6 cm, with large individuals around 7 cm standard length
Expected lifespan
About 3–5 years
Minimum housing
At least 90 L for a group of ten or more, adjusted to the provenance and salinity needs of the stock
Temperature
20–28 °C
pH
6.5–8.2
Hardness or minerals
Moderately soft to hard depending on population provenance
Salinity
Freshwater to brackish depending on verified population; do not add salt automatically
Lighting
Moderate to bright with planted margins
Social structure
Keep at least ten with a balanced sex ratio
Placement or swimming zone
Upper and middle water
Temperament
Peaceful, active and highly social
Compatibility
Use small peaceful fish with matching temperature and salinity requirements
Habitat structure
Long covered aquarium with open swimming room, planted or wooded margins, good oxygenation and chemistry matched to stock provenance

Feeding and nutrition

Diet
Tiny aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, zooplankton, algae and fine prepared foods
Feeding frequency
Feed small varied portions once or twice daily

Breeding and reproduction

Breeding or reproduction
Females deposit a few adhesive eggs daily among vegetation or mops. Move eggs or mops for controlled rearing and preserve locality records
Parental care
No parental care; adults may eat eggs and fry

System demands

Filtration
Use mature biological filtration sized for the full adult group and feeding load, with intake protection where juveniles, long fins or small fish are present. Provide steady turnover without preventing normal swimming or resting.
Aeration
Maintain strong surface gas exchange and stable dissolved oxygen. Increase aeration during warm weather, medication, transport recovery, breeding crowding or any ammonia or nitrite event.
Maintenance
Test ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, remove waste from feeding and shelter zones, and perform regular temperature- and chemistry-matched water changes before nitrate or dissolved organics accumulate.

Detailed husbandry

Identity scope
This profile applies to the Australian native Pseudomugil signifer. Geographic forms vary substantially and must not be mixed or assigned locality names without records.
Adult size and space
Usually 4–6 cm, with large individuals around 7 cm standard length. At least 90 L for a group of ten or more, adjusted to the provenance and salinity needs of the stock. Plan around adult dimensions, activity, social structure, aggression and waste production rather than sale size.
Social structure
Keep at least ten with a balanced sex ratio
Placement or swimming zone
Primary zone: Upper and middle water. Keep that zone usable for movement, feeding and refuge.
Feeding ecology
Tiny aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, zooplankton, algae and fine prepared foods
Feeding plan
Feed small varied portions once or twice daily
Water stability
Maintain 20–28 °C; pH 6.5–8.2; hardness/minerals: Moderately soft to hard depending on population provenance. Stable oxygenation and nitrogen-cycle control matter more than chasing one exact number.
Adult projected load
Plan capacity for Keep at least ten with a balanced sex ratio at the documented adult size (Usually 4–6 cm, with large individuals around 7 cm standard length) in At least 90 L for a group of ten or more, adjusted to the provenance and salinity needs of the stock. Include feeding intensity, territorial behaviour and breeding growth rather than counting sale-size juveniles.
Filtration
Use mature biological filtration sized for the full adult group and feeding load, with intake protection where juveniles, long fins or small fish are present. Provide steady turnover without preventing normal swimming or resting.
Aeration
Maintain strong surface gas exchange and stable dissolved oxygen. Increase aeration during warm weather, medication, transport recovery, breeding crowding or any ammonia or nitrite event.
Maintenance
Test ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, remove waste from feeding and shelter zones, and perform regular temperature- and chemistry-matched water changes before nitrate or dissolved organics accumulate.
Habitat structure
Long covered aquarium with open swimming room, planted or wooded margins, good oxygenation and chemistry matched to stock provenance
Compatibility plan
Use small peaceful fish with matching temperature and salinity requirements
Breeding plan
Females deposit a few adhesive eggs daily among vegetation or mops. Move eggs or mops for controlled rearing and preserve locality records Parental care: No parental care; adults may eat eggs and fry.
Quarantine
Quarantine new fish in a separate cycled aquarium with dedicated equipment. Match temperature and mineral chemistry gradually, confirm feeding and normal respiration, and never add transport water to the established aquarium.
Welfare checks
Maintain the stated adult space and social structure, verify feeding and intervene early when injury, exclusion, weight loss, abnormal respiration or altered behaviour appears. Australian native status does not permit casual collection, translocation or release. The species spans many geographic forms and salinity regimes, so provenance matters.
Biosecurity and release
Never release fish, fry, eggs, aquarium water, sediment, plants or live foods into drains, dams or natural waterways. Confirm current Australian import conditions and South Australian possession, trade and movement rules before acquisition or transfer.
Main risk
Australian native status does not permit casual collection, translocation or release. The species spans many geographic forms and salinity regimes, so provenance matters.
Overridable warnings
Australian native status does not permit casual collection, translocation or release. The species spans many geographic forms and salinity regimes, so provenance matters. Any override must still preserve adult space, social welfare, stable chemistry, oxygen and filter capacity.

Welfare and risk

Welfare checks
Maintain the stated adult space and social structure, verify feeding and intervene early when injury, exclusion, weight loss, abnormal respiration or altered behaviour appears. Australian native status does not permit casual collection, translocation or release. The species spans many geographic forms and salinity regimes, so provenance matters.
Main warning
Australian native status does not permit casual collection, translocation or release. The species spans many geographic forms and salinity regimes, so provenance matters.
Biosecurity
Never release fish, fry, eggs, aquarium water, sediment, plants or live foods into drains, dams or natural waterways. Confirm current Australian import conditions and South Australian possession, trade and movement rules before acquisition or transfer.

Sources

Source note

Current identity or scope, husbandry, system-demand, welfare and Australian biosecurity evidence checked; active retired-source links removed; all AquaNexus wording is original.

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