Pseudomugil novaeguineae – New Guinea Blue-eye
Pseudomugil novaeguineae is an elegant and charming blue-eye species native to New Guinea. It is not as flashily colored as the P. luminatus but possesses a subtle beauty and grace that makes it highly sought after by aquarium enthusiasts who appreciate its delicate appearance and interesting behavior.
Overview & Natural History
- Scientific Name: Pseudomugil novaeguineae
- Common Names: New Guinea Blue-eye
- Discovery: First described by Weber in 1907, making it one of the earlier discovered blue-eye species.
- Habitat: It is found in a variety of freshwater habitats across northern New Guinea (both Papua New Guinea and Indonesian Papua). These include slow-moving streams, swamps, and marshes, often in clear water with abundant vegetation.
Physical Appearance
This species exhibits a more subdued color palette compared to its red-neon cousin, but is no less beautiful.
- Size: Small, reaching up to 4 cm (1.6 inches), making it slightly larger than P. luminatus on average.
- Body: Slender and streamlined, built for agile swimming.
- Coloration (Males):
- The body is a translucent olive-silver, often with a pronounced yellowish or golden sheen on the upper body.
- The unpaired fins (dorsal, anal, caudal) are large and can be lemon-yellow to hyaline (transparent).
- The most distinctive feature is the fin markings. The anterior dorsal fin rays are often black, and the fins may be edged in a subtle white or blueish-white line.
- As with all blue-eyes, the eyes are a striking, brilliant blue.
- Coloration (Females): Females are plainer, with more translucent fins and a fuller, rounder body, especially when gravid. They lack the intense fin coloration and markings of the males.
Behavior & Temperament
- Temperament: Extremely peaceful and somewhat shy. They are best kept in a calm aquarium without boisterous tankmates.
- Activity: Active but less frenetic than P. luminatus. They are graceful swimmers that hover and dance in the mid-to-upper water levels.
- Social Structure: They are shoaling fish and must be kept in groups to feel secure and display their natural behaviors. A group of 8-12 is recommended. Males will display to each other constantly, flaring their fins in a beautiful, non-aggressive dance.
Aquarium Care
Tank Size: A longer tank is beneficial due to their active swimming nature. A 15-gallon or 20-gallon long aquarium is ideal for a dedicated shoal.
Water Parameters:
- Temperature: 24°C – 28°C (75°F – 82°F)
- pH: 6.5 – 7.8 (They are somewhat adaptable but prefer neutral water)
- Hardness: Prefers soft to moderately hard water.
- Cleanliness: Like all Pseudomugil, they are sensitive to poor water quality. Excellent filtration (with a gentle flow) and regular weekly water changes are mandatory.
Tank Setup:
- Environment: A heavily planted tank is essential to make these shy fish feel secure. Use dense stands of plants around the sides and back, but leave an open area in the front for swimming.
- Decor: Floating plants are highly recommended to diffuse light and reduce shyness. Driftwood and leaf litter (e.g., Indian Almond Leaves) can be used to create a natural aesthetic and provide beneficial tannins.
- Substrate: A dark substrate will help highlight their subtle colors and reduce light reflection, making them more comfortable.
Diet
They are micropredators with small mouths.
- Staple Diet: High-quality micro-pellets, finely crushed flake food, and powdered foods.
- Optimal Diet: Their health and coloration are significantly enhanced by a regular diet of live and frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp, microworms, daphnia, and grindal worms.
Tankmates
Due to their shy and small nature, tankmates must be chosen with extreme care.
- Excellent Tankmates: Peaceful nano fish such as:
- Smaller Tateurndina ocellicauda (Peacock Gudgeon)
- Dwarf Corydoras (e.g., Corydoras habrosus, Corydoras pygmaeus)
- Small, peaceful Otocinclus
- Neocaridina/Caridina shrimp
- Best Practice: They truly shine in a species-specific tank where their delicate behaviors and social dynamics can be fully appreciated without competition.
- Avoid: Any fish large enough to see them as food or that are known to be fin-nippers (e.g., some barb species).
Breeding
Similar to other Pseudomugil species, they are continuous spawners.
- Setup: Use a dedicated breeding tank with soft, slightly acidic to neutral water, plenty of Java moss or synthetic spawning mops, and gentle filtration.
- Process: Condition a group with plenty of live food. Males will display to females, who will deposit a small number of eggs daily in the moss or mops.
- Eggs & Fry: Eggs are adhesive and will stick to the spawning medium. Adults will prey on eggs and fry, so either remove the adults or carefully transfer the egg-covered moss to a rearing tank. Eggs hatch in 10-14 days. Fry are tiny and require infusoria or commercial fry food for the first week before graduating to baby brine shrimp.
Lifespan
Their lifespan is relatively short, typically 1 to 2 years in captivity.
Summary Table
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pseudomugil novaeguineae |
| Common Name | New Guinea Blue-eye |
| Max Size | 4 cm (1.6 inches) |
| Temperament | Peaceful, Shy, Shoaling |
| Tank Size | 60 Litres / 15 Gallons (ideal) |
| Diet | Omnivore (Micropredator); requires small live/frozen foods for optimal health |
| Water Temperature | 24°C – 28°C (75°F – 82°F) |
| pH | 6.5 – 7.8 |
| Difficulty | Intermediate (due to sensitivity and shy nature) |
| Breeding | Moderate; egg-scatterer, continuous spawner |
Key Differences from Pseudomugil luminatus (Red Neon Blue-eye)
- Coloration: P. novaeguineae lacks the bright red and crimson spots on the fins that define P. luminatus. Its colors are more yellow, black, and white.
- Temperament: P. novaeguineae is generally considered shyer and more delicate than the bolder, more adaptable P. luminatus.
- Distribution: They are found in different regions of New Guinea and may have slightly different water parameter preferences as a result.
In summary, the New Guinea Blue-eye is a fish for the discerning aquarist who appreciates subtle elegance and graceful behavior. It rewards careful keeping and a well-designed habitat with a captivating display of natural social interaction.