Description
Pseudomugil luminatus, also known as the Red Neon Blue-eye or Luminous Blue-eye, is a vibrant, small rainbowfish species. Known for its striking red and neon-blue coloring, this species is highly sought after in the aquarium hobby. While native to Indonesia’s Papua region, it has gained global popularity for its unique beauty and manageable care requirements.
Key Characteristics
- Size: Typically grows to about 3-4 cm (1.2-1.6 inches), making it ideal for nano and community aquariums.
- Coloration: Males are particularly vivid, with bright red bodies and neon-blue highlights, especially around the head and eyes, giving them a “glowing” appearance. Females tend to have subtler coloration, with lighter red or orange tones.
- Fins: Males have elongated, slightly translucent fins with vivid red and yellow coloring, often spotted or striped.
- Temperament: Peaceful and best kept in small groups, as they are schooling fish. Males may display some fin-flaring behavior to establish hierarchy or during mating displays, but it’s usually non-aggressive.
Care Requirements
- Tank Setup: A 10-20 gallon aquarium with plenty of plants and open swimming space is ideal. The plants mimic their natural habitat and provide shelter for breeding.
- Water Parameters:
- pH: Prefers slightly acidic to neutral water, around 6.0-7.5.
- Temperature: 24-28°C (75-82°F).
- Hardness: Soft to moderately hard water.
- Diet: Omnivorous, feeding well on high-quality micro-pellets, flakes, and live or frozen foods like baby brine shrimp and daphnia. They do best with a varied diet to maintain color vibrancy and health.
Breeding
Pseudomugil luminatus can be bred in captivity, with a setup focused on dense plantings or fine-leaved breeding mops where females can deposit eggs. Males will display their fin colors to attract females, who lay eggs among the plants. Eggs generally hatch in about 7-10 days, with fry requiring tiny live foods like infusoria or vinegar eels initially.
The Red Neon Blue-eye is a stunning addition to aquariums, providing brilliant flashes of color and dynamic interactions, especially when kept in a well-planted setup with gentle water flow.
