Product Details

Southern Blue-eye Rainbow – Pseudomugil signifer

The Southern Blue-eye Rainbow is a small, active Australian blue-eye rainbowfish with a slender body, bright reflective eyes and lively shoaling behaviour. Also sold as the Pacific Blue-eye, Blue-eye Rainbowfish, Southern Blue-eye or Australian Blue-eye, this peaceful species is well suited to mature planted aquariums, cooler tropical community tanks and temperate-style indoor setups. It is hardy and attractive when settled, but it should be kept in a proper group with calm tank mates and clean, stable water.

Key Identification:

Common Name: Southern Blue-eye Rainbow
Other Names: Pacific Blue-eye, Southern Blue-eye, Blue-eye Rainbowfish, Australian Blue-eye
Scientific Name: Pseudomugil signifer
Fish Type: Blue-eye Rainbowfish
Water Type: Freshwater / Lightly Brackish Tolerant

Natural Range & Habitat:

Pseudomugil signifer is native to eastern Australia, where it is one of the more widely distributed blue-eye species. Wild populations occur in coastal streams, creeks, lagoons, swamps, drains, estuaries and vegetated margins, and some populations may experience slightly brackish conditions.

In the aquarium, Southern Blue-eyes do best in a mature planted setup with open swimming space, fine-leaved plants, floating cover and gentle to moderate water movement. A natural layout with plants, roots, leaf litter and shaded areas helps them feel secure and display better colour.

Appearance & Adult Size:

Southern Blue-eye Rainbows have a slim, transparent to silvery body with bright blue reflective eyes. Depending on locality, sex, mood and lighting, the body and fins may show yellow, gold, silver, blue, black or orange highlights.

Males are usually more colourful and develop stronger fin markings than females. Females are generally plainer and rounder-bodied when mature. Adults commonly reach around 3.5–5 cm, although some larger forms may reach around 6–7 cm.

Aquarium Suitability:

This species is well suited to planted community aquariums, Australian biotope-style setups and cooler tropical or temperate indoor aquariums. It appreciates stable water, good oxygenation, plant cover and open swimming room.

Southern Blue-eyes are peaceful, but they are small and active, so they should not be kept with aggressive, predatory or very boisterous fish. They are best shown in groups, where males display to each other and the fish behave more confidently.

Recommended Aquarium Size:

A practical minimum is 60 litres for a group, with a tank length of at least 60 cm recommended. Larger aquariums are better for bigger shoals and mixed peaceful communities.

Keep in a group of at least 6, with 8–10 or more preferred where space allows. A larger mixed group encourages natural display behaviour and reduces stress.

Water Conditions:

Temperature: 18–27°C
pH: 6.5–7.8
Hardness: Moderately soft to moderately hard
Additional Notes: Southern Blue-eyes are adaptable, but they do best in clean, stable and well-oxygenated water. Avoid very soft acidic extremes, poor water quality and sudden parameter swings. They can suit unheated indoor aquariums where room temperature remains stable, but avoid prolonged cold conditions.

Temperament & Tank Mates:

Aquarium Category: Community Fish

Southern Blue-eye Rainbows are peaceful shoaling fish suitable for calm community aquariums. Suitable tank mates include small rainbowfish, ricefish, White Cloud Mountain Minnows, small rasboras, peaceful tetras that tolerate similar conditions, pygmy cory-type catfish, Otocinclus and other gentle community fish.

Avoid large predators, aggressive cichlids, fin-nipping species, boisterous barbs and very fast-feeding fish that may outcompete them. They should not be kept singly or in pairs, as low numbers can make them nervous and reduce display behaviour.

Feeding:

Southern Blue-eye Rainbows are small omnivores and micropredators. Offer fine flakes, micro pellets, powdered foods and small slow-sinking or floating foods as the staple diet.

Supplement with suitably sized frozen or live foods such as daphnia, cyclops, baby brineshrimp, mosquito larvae, rotifers and microworms. Their mouths are small, so food should be appropriately sized. A varied diet helps maintain colour, condition and active shoaling behaviour.

Behaviour in the Aquarium:

This is an active upper to midwater shoaling fish that spends much of its time swimming through open areas and plant cover. Males may display to females and rival males by showing brighter fin colour and spreading their fins.

Breeding may occur in mature planted aquariums. Eggs are usually deposited among fine-leaved plants, moss or spawning mops. Adults may eat eggs and fry, so separate breeding arrangements are recommended if you want to raise young.

Care Notes:

Add Southern Blue-eye Rainbows only to a mature, stable aquarium with peaceful tank mates. Provide plant cover, open swimming space and good water quality.

They are generally hardy once settled, but they can be stressed by poor water conditions, rough tank mates or being kept in too small a group. A secure lid is recommended, as small active fish may jump when startled. If keeping them in cooler aquariums, make sure the temperature remains stable and does not drop too low.

Recommended For:

Beginner to intermediate

Availability:

Occasional / Usually captive-bred or commercially farmed, with wild-type and locality forms sometimes available

Image Disclaimer:

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Natural variation in size, colour, pattern, fin shape, body tone and markings can occur between individual fish.