Honey Blue-eye

About

The Honey Blue-eye (Pseudomugil mellis) is a small, delicate rainbowfish native to a narrow coastal strip of southeastern Queensland, ranging from the Brisbane area north to around Bundaberg. In the wild it occupies a very specific habitat type known locally as wallum. Slow-moving, tannin-stained creeks and coastal dune lakes where the water runs dark as tea over sandy or muddy bottoms. You'll find them drifting along grassy banks, sheltering among reeds and water lilies, in water that's naturally quite acidic and soft. This makes the species a close cousin to the better-known Pseudomugil signifer, and the family resemblance is clear in the males' ornate finnage and bright, jewel-like eyes. Despite their specialized wild habitat, Honey Blue-eyes are reasonably adaptable in a well-maintained aquarium, though some experience with softwater species will serve you well here. They're a peaceful, sociable fish that does best in a group, and a planted tank with some dark substrate and perhaps a handful of dried leaves to mimic their natural environment will really bring out their best colors and behavior. Given their small adult size, a modest tank is perfectly adequate, making them a rewarding choice for the hobbyist who wants something a little out of the ordinary from the Australian rainbowfish family.