Pacific Blue Eye

Interesting Info

• The Pacific Blue Eye is a small but striking freshwater and estuarine fish native to eastern Australia, from northern Queensland down through New South Wales. It’s one of the most colourful little fish in Aussie creeks.
• They are named for their bright, iridescent blue eyes, which shine in the sunlight — a unique feature that makes them stand out in the shallows.
• Their bodies are mostly clear to silvery, sometimes with faint vertical stripes, but males grow spectacular elongated fins edged with white or yellow during breeding season.
• Adults are usually 3–4 cm (1.1–1.5 in) long, though some can reach up to 6 cm (2.3 in). Despite their size, they are highly visible thanks to their colours.
• Pacific Blue Eyes are highly adaptable. They live in freshwater creeks, estuaries, mangroves, and even slightly salty tidal pools, often swimming in schools near the surface.
• They prefer shallow waters less than 1 m (3.2 ft) deep, especially where aquatic plants, mangrove roots, or submerged wood provide cover.
• Pacific Blue Eyes are omnivores, eating algae, insect larvae, small crustaceans, and plankton, which makes them important in keeping waterways balanced. Newly hatched larvae are tiny and drift among plants, feeding on microscopic plankton.
• They are schooling fish, meaning they feel safest in groups, darting and flashing through the water together.
• They spawn in warmer months (spring to summer), with males performing shimmering courtship displays to attract females. Females lay small adhesive eggs, which stick to aquatic vegetation until they hatch.
• Pacific Blue Eyes are very popular in native Australian aquariums. They are hardy, colourful, and active, thriving in tanks of 60 litres (15 gallons) or larger with planted areas and gentle flow. They do best in schools of 6 or more.
• Lifespan is generally 1–2 years in the wild, but in aquariums they can live a little longer with good care.