Popondetta Blue Eye (Pseudomugil connieae)

Popondetta Blue Eye Pseudomugil connieae
Name	Popondetta Blue Eye
Name Lat.	Pseudomugil connieae
Family	Blue Eyes
Family lat.	Pseudomugilidae
Order	Silversides
Order lat.	Atheriniformes
Origin	New Guinea
Habitat	Rainforest streams
Diet	Omnivore
pH	7.5-8.0
Behavior	Peaceful
Keeping	Swarm
Care Level	Moderate
Reproduction	Egg scatterer
Breeding	Moderately difficult
Life Span	2-4 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	4.5 cm
Temperature	25-28 °C
Hardness	10-20 °dH
Aquarium	50 l
US Units
Size	1.8"
Temperature	77-82 °F
Hardness	178-356 ppm
Aquarium	15 gal

Distribution and habitat

Popondetta blue-eyes occur exclusively (endemically) in eastern Papua New Guinea, near Popondetta. They live in shoals in the clear water of shallow, relatively fast  flowing streams in the rainforest.

Maintenance

The aquarium should have a dense, varied planting, with shelters and hiding places (roots) and provide sufficient swimming space. A dark substrate of sand or fine gravel, some floating plants (e.g. Rizzia) and clear, slightly alkaline water as well as a weak current is ideal.

No ammonia, ammonium and nitrite should be detectable, the nitrate value should not exceed 100 mg/l. To ensure the water quality and oxygen content, a filter and heater adapted to the aquarium size is required, as well as lighting for the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals.

Diet

The food supply consists of small live food, which is also accepted without problems in frozen form, such as Artemia, Moina, Daphnia and mosquito larvae or a commercially available frozen nano food mix. In addition, they need regular vegetable food in the form of granulated or flake food for nano fish with spirulina or kelp

It is recommended to feed small portions twice a day. Regular and varied feeding promotes health and prevents deficiency symptoms. Only feed as much as is eaten immediately (in a maximum of 10 minutes).

Behaviour and compatibility

They are lively, swimming swarm fish and at least 5, but preferably much more should be kept together, whereby the number of females should predominate. In the shoal the males show their most beautiful coloration. These very peaceful fish can be socialized well with other calm and small fish (nano fish) as well as shrimps

Basically, only compatible fish species with similar demands on water conditions and water temperature should be socialized.

Sex dimorphism

The females are not as intensely colored as the larger males, which have an extended first dorsal fin.

Reproduction and breeding

They are free spawners, which during the reproductive period daily in the morning (morning sun) deposit their eggs, which are provided with adhesive threads, on fine-leaved plants. The fry hatch after 15-20 days. The parents are spawn predators.

Fry must be fed several times a day with special rearing food (dust food, Artemia nauplii, infusoria). In community tanks breeding is hardly possible, because the spawn is easy prey.

Important

They like to jump, so the aquarium should be well covered

Occasionally they are confused with the closely related Fork-tailed Blueeyes (Pseudomugil furcatus), but they have 7-9 segmented rays in the second dorsal fin and their males are bright orange on the chest

The well-being of the fish should be monitored regularly. Temperature should be checked daily, pH, hardness and nitrate levels at least every 14 days. Regular partial water changes are recommended, even if the contaminant level has not yet reached the upper limit. Sudden changes in water quality should be avoided. Newly introduced fish must be accustomed slowly to the water in the aquarium.

Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: petdata; Image: Franz Lowak

Source: BMELV (1998): Tierschutzgutachten - Haltung von Zierfischen (Süßwasser); BAENSCH & RIEHL (2004): Aquarien Atlas Bd. 2, Mergus Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF