Spotted blue-eye

The spotted blue-eye is a small rainbowfish relative from the shallow, vegetated margins of creeks and swamps in northern Australia, Papua New Guinea, and nearby Indonesian islands. Males reach about 3.8 cm and are strikingly coloured for their size, with iridescent blue eyes, yellow fins edged in black, and a scattering of small dark spots on the body. Females are paler and lack the extended fin rays the males use in display. A group of eight or more should be the minimum — they are social fish that feel secure only in numbers, and males show their best colours when competing for attention. The tank should hold at least 40 litres with plenty of fine-leaved plants and open swimming space. Temperature between 21°C and 28°C suits them well, with a pH range of 4.5 to 7.5 reflecting the variable conditions of their native habitats — some localities have clear near-neutral water while others are stained dark with tannins and very acidic. They are planktivores by nature, constantly browsing the water column for tiny crustaceans and insect larvae, so offer fine-grade flake, crushed pellets, and regular helpings of Daphnia or Artemia. Breeding is straightforward in a planted tank — they scatter eggs daily among Java moss or spawning mops, and the fry emerge after about ten days. Their lifespan is short, around three years, but they compensate by breeding readily throughout the year.