Honey blue eye

The honey blue-eye is a small, delicate rainbowfish endemic to the Wallum heathland of southeastern Queensland, Australia, where it inhabits slow-moving, tannin-stained coastal creeks and dune lakes with soft, acidic water. Reaching about 3.5 cm standard length, males are exquisitely coloured: a warm honey-bronze body with brilliant blue eyes, a first dorsal fin that is predominantly black with a white anterior border, and anal and second dorsal fins edged in a thin black submarginal band with a white margin. Obtain captive stocks with a documented origin. Leaf litter can provide cover and a blackwater-style setting; check the actual water chemistry rather than assuming that adding leaves establishes the desired pH. For aquarium care, use a stable temperature of 24–28°C and soft water. Keep water at pH 6.0–7.5. They are sensitive to poor water quality and require stable, mature conditions. A tight-fitting lid is essential as these are accomplished jumpers, and strong water currents must be avoided — a simple air-driven sponge filter is ideal.

These are peaceful, shy group fish. Keep a group with room for fish to retreat from displaying males. Males display their fins and breed within territories; provide plants and room for other fish to retreat rather than assuming that all displays are harmless. They are omnivorous but require small foods: high-quality micro-pellets, crushed flake, and live or frozen brine shrimp, daphnia, and micro-worms. Compatible tankmates include other small, peaceful nano fish like dwarf rasboras, small tetras, and shrimp. Avoid all aggressive or boisterous species. Breeding is relatively straightforward: spawning occurs over several days on Java moss or spawning mops, and eggs can hatch within about nine days at the warmer end of the range described by Aquatic Community. Separate eggs from adults, start newly hatched fry on very small foods, and move to Artemia only when the fry can take them.