A rare, stunning nano shoaling fish endemic to the acidic, tannin-stained 'wallum' heathlands of Queensland, Australia. Known for their honey-golden bodies and striking blue eyes, they are highly active but peaceful. They require mature, slightly acidic, soft water aquariums with dense planting. Listed as Endangered in the wild.
Honey Blue Eye At a Glance
Honey Blue Eye Tank Requirements
Will Honey Blue Eye fit in your tank?
Care guides tell you what Honey Blue Eye needs, the next question is whether your tank can safely provide it. Test Honey Blue Eye against your tank size, maintenance needs, and the fish you already keep before you buy.
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Honey Blue Eye Water Parameters
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Honey Blue Eye Temperament & Compatibility
Honey Blue Eye Varieties
Each variety inherits the species defaults above. Only differences are highlighted.
Male
Males feature extended dorsal and anal fins with striking black submarginal bands and white/yellow edges. They actively display and spar harmlessly with competing males to establish a pecking order.
Differs in 1 trait from base species
Also known as: Display Male
Female
Females are slightly smaller, plainer in honey-gold coloration, and possess much shorter, rounded fins. Keeping more females than males helps distribute male displaying behaviors evenly.
Differs in 2 traits from base species
Also known as: Female
Unsexed / Juvenile
Young or unsexed specimens. At smaller sizes, it is difficult to differentiate males from females. Should be purchased in groups of 6-10+ to ensure a healthy mixed-sex shoal.
Differs in 2 traits from base species
Also known as: Juvenile, Fry
Honey Blue Eye Care Guide Summary
The Honey Blue Eye, scientifically known as Pseudomugil mellis, belongs to the Rainbowfish family group. Adults reach a maximum size of approximately 3 cm and have a fusiform body shape with a moderate growth rate. Classified as peaceful, this species primarily occupies the surface and mid-level zones of the aquarium and produces a low level of biological waste.
To thrive, the Honey Blue Eye requires a freshwater only aquarium with a minimum volume of 40 litres and a tank length of at least 45 cm. Water temperature should be maintained between 20°C and 28°C, with a pH range of 4.5–7 and a general hardness of 1–8 dGH. A low water flow is preferred.
Due to its specialist needs, the Honey Blue Eye is best suited for fishkeepers who can provide a carefully planned setup. This species is available in 3 varieties: Male, Female, and Unsexed / Juvenile. Each may differ slightly in size, temperament, or care needs, so it is worth checking the specific requirements of the variety you plan to keep.
Honey Blue Eye Habitat Setup
When setting up an aquarium for the Honey Blue Eye, a low water flow best suits their natural preferences. Because this species occupies the surface and mid-level zones, the aquarium layout should prioritise adequate surface area with floating cover to make them feel secure near the waterline and open swimming space in the centre of the tank for free movement. Useful additions include driftwood, which can serve as both a hiding place and a dietary supplement, leaf litter or blackwater tannins to replicate their natural soft-water habitat, and dense planting to provide cover, break sightlines, and reduce stress. Keepers should note that a tight-fitting lid is essential, as this species is a known jumper.
Honey Blue Eye Compatibility Notes
Classified as peaceful, the Honey Blue Eye is a schooling species that feels most secure in a sizeable group, where natural shoaling behaviour reduces stress and brings out their best colours. Selecting tankmates that favour different water layers from the surface and mid-level zones can help reduce competition and territorial overlap.
Honey Blue Eye Recommended Tank Sizes
Standard aquarium sizes that meet the minimum volume and length requirements for Honey Blue Eye.
15 Gallon Standard
20 Gallon High
20 Gallon Long
29 Gallon Standard
30 Gallon Breeder
36 Gallon Bowfront
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Frequently Asked Questions About Honey Blue Eye
How big does Honey Blue Eye get?
Honey Blue Eye (Pseudomugil mellis) typically reaches a maximum adult size of approximately 3 cm. They have a fusiform body shape and a moderate growth rate.
What tank size does Honey Blue Eye need?
A minimum aquarium volume of 40 litres and a tank length of at least 45 cm are recommended for Honey Blue Eye. This ensures enough swimming space and helps maintain stable water conditions.
What water parameters does Honey Blue Eye need?
Honey Blue Eye thrives in freshwater only conditions with a temperature range of 20–28°C, a pH between 4.5 and 7, and a general hardness of 1–8 dGH. A low water flow is preferred.
Is Honey Blue Eye peaceful or aggressive?
Honey Blue Eye is classified as peaceful with an aggression score of 2 out of 10. They are generally well-suited to peaceful community tanks.
How many Honey Blue Eye should be kept together?
Honey Blue Eye is a schooling species and should be kept in groups of at least 6. Larger groups help distribute aggression and encourage natural schooling behaviour.
Does Honey Blue Eye have any special tank requirements?
Yes. Honey Blue Eye benefits from leaf litter/blackwater, plants - densely covered, and driftwood (digestion/hiding) in the aquarium. These features help replicate their natural habitat and promote overall health and well-being.
Does Honey Blue Eye need a lid on the tank?
Yes. Honey Blue Eye is a known jumper, and a tight-fitting lid or cover is essential to prevent escape. Even a small gap can be enough for a determined fish to leap out.
Top Tank Mates for Honey Blue Eye
These fish are strong compatibility matches for Honey Blue Eye based on water preferences, temperament, adult size, and tank behavior.
Golden Bristlenose Pleco
Ancistrus sp. L144
Ideal Tank MatesBristlenose Pleco
Ancistrus cf. cirrhosus
Ideal Tank MatesBolivian Ram
Mikrogeophagus altispinosus
Ideal Tank MatesBanded Gourami
Trichogaster fasciata
Ideal Tank MatesPlants That Suit Honey Blue Eye
These plants pair well with Honey Blue Eye based on shared water preferences, layout fit, and how likely they are to hold up in the same aquarium.
Amazon Frogbit
Limnobium laevigatum
Asian Watergrass
Hygroryza aristata
Asian Watermoss
Salvinia cucullata
Beckett's Water Trumpet
Cryptocoryne beckettii
Broad-leaved Crypt
Cryptocoryne pontederiifolia
Carolina Fanwort
Cabomba caroliniana
Fish Similar to Honey Blue Eye
Delicate Blue-Eye
Pseudomugil tenellus
The Delicate Blue-Eye is a small, highly active shoaling fish native to the swamps and coastal floodplains of Northern Australia and New Guinea. They are euryhaline (tolerating both fresh and brackish water) and thrive in warm, densely planted aquariums. They are peaceful but require a group to feel secure and display their best behaviors.
Kiunga Blue Eye
Kiunga ballochi
A tiny, critically rare micro-predator native to a very restricted area in the Upper Fly River system of Papua New Guinea. Characterized by a transparent 'glass' body with striking yellow and black fin margins. They are peaceful shoaling fish that require highly stable water conditions and a planted aquarium. Listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, they are a true rarity in the aquarium trade.
Blue Back Blue Eye
Pseudomugil cyanodorsalis
A tiny, highly active euryhaline species native to the mangrove swamps and tidal estuaries of Northern Australia. While biologically capable of surviving in pure freshwater or full marine conditions, they require a brackish aquarium (SG 1.005-1.015) to thrive, breed, and resist disease long-term. They are peaceful shoaling fish but spectacular jumpers, so a tight-fitting lid is absolutely mandatory.
Forktail Blue-eye
Pseudomugil furcatus
A highly active, nano shoaling fish native to Papua New Guinea. Recognized by their striking blue eyes and energetic swimming patterns. They are peaceful but require open horizontal swimming space and the company of their own kind to thrive. Due to their short lifespan (2-3 years), they mature quickly and display near-constant courtship behavior.
Gertrude's Spotted Blue-eye
Pseudomugil gertrudae
A stunning, highly active nano fish native to Australia and New Guinea. Known for their striking blue eyes and the males' spectacular, heavily spotted fins which they flare during dominance displays. They are peaceful but require being kept in shoals to thrive and exhibit natural behaviors.
Popondetta Blue-eye
Pseudomugil connieae
The Popondetta Blue-eye is a stunning, active nano fish native to the clear, fast-flowing streams of Papua New Guinea. Recognized by their bright blue eyes and striking finnage, they are an excellent choice for peaceful community aquariums. As a schooling species, they establish a pecking order, with males frequently flaring their fins in beautiful displays to attract females or establish dominance. They require well-oxygenated, moderately hard, alkaline water to thrive.