New Guinea Blue-eye

Adults reach approximately 4 cm in length. Their bodies are semi-transparent, with a slight turquoise sheen on the belly and head. The eyes of these fish have a bluish iris and a barely noticeable golden rim around the pupil. Males are usually more brightly colored than females. Their caudal fins are edged in red, and their pelvic and anal fins in yellow. The forked dorsal fin also stands out with black or yellow markings along its edges.

As the name suggests, this fish is native to the island of New Guinea, as well as the neighboring Indonesian Aru Islands. Its natural habitat consists of shallow, slow-flowing streams and small rivers that run through dense tropical forests in lowland areas.

These active and peaceful fish coexist well with other species of comparable size. However, during the breeding season, males may show excessive attention to females, forcing the latter to seek shelter until they are ready to spawn. Given this behavioral trait, it is recommended to keep only one male with several females in a small aquarium. In other cases, it is also desirable for the number of females to exceed that of males.

For a small group of 4–6 fish, the optimal aquarium size starts from 60 liters. In this case, the width of the tank is more important than its depth, as the New Guinea Blue-eye primarily inhabits the upper layers of the water. When decorating the aquarium, key attention should be paid to the upper layer, where open swimming areas and sheltered zones, created by clusters of floating plants, should be harmoniously combined. The main difficulty in keeping them lies in the need to maintain the water pH level within a narrow range of 5.5–6.5 and to prevent the accumulation of organic waste, which can lead to an increase in nitrate levels—products of the nitrogen cycle. Thus, an effective filtration system and regular aquarium maintenance, including partial water changes and substrate cleaning, are mandatory conditions.

These fish prefer small live or frozen foods. They can also be accustomed to dry diets, such as flakes or granules, provided they have a high protein content. To ensure their vibrant coloration, it is worth prioritizing only high-quality food products.

At the time of preparing this text, little reliable information on the reproduction of the New Guinea Blue-eye has been published. Successful spawning depends on a combination of several conditions: a balanced diet and high water quality. The closer the aquarium conditions are to their natural habitat, the higher the probability of successful reproduction. The bright red eggs are laid among dense thickets of fine-leaved plants, mosses, or ferns.

Under favorable conditions, cases of disease in these fish are rare. If the first symptoms of an ailment appear, such as lethargy, body deformation, or the appearance of spots, it is first necessary to check the water quality. Often, bringing all environmental parameters back to normal allows the fish's body to cope with the disease on its own. Otherwise, medication may be required. More detailed information can be found in the "Diseases of Aquarium Fish" section.

When purchasing, choose active and mobile individuals with clean fins and no visible skin damage. Avoid fish with signs of emaciation, sunken bellies, or unnatural coating on the body. Since the species is schooling, it is recommended to acquire a group of 6-8 individuals to reduce stress during relocation and adaptation to new conditions. In the store, pay attention to the keeping conditions: healthy fish should display bright coloration characteristic of their sex and actively respond to feeding. Be sure to ask the seller how long the fish have been in quarantine, as recently imported specimens may be susceptible to stress and infections.