Gertrude's Blue Eye Rainbow Fish

🐟 Gertrude’s Blue-Eye Rainbowfish Care Overview

🧬 Species Info

• Common Name: Gertrude’s Blue-Eye, Spotted Blue-Eye
• Scientific Name: Pseudomugil gertrudae
• Origin: Northern Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia
• Size: 1–1.25 inches (2.5–3 cm)
• Lifespan: 3–5 years
• Temperament: Peaceful, shoaling, active

🌊 Tank Requirements

• Tank Size: 10 gallons minimum (20+ gallons preferred for larger groups)
• Temperature: 72–82°F (22–28°C)
• pH: 6.0–7.5
• Hardness: Soft to moderate
• Lighting: Moderate to high (brings out iridescence)
• Substrate: Fine sand or gravel
• Decor: Heavily planted with open swimming space, floating plants, and fine-leaved plants for spawning

🐠 Behavior & Tankmates

• Group Size: Minimum of 6–8, ideally 10+ for full display behavior
• Tankmates:
• Excellent with other peaceful nano species (chili rasboras, ember tetras, sparkling gouramis)
• Great with shrimp
• Avoid large or aggressive fish — they’ll get outcompeted or eaten
• Male Displays: Males show off their spotted fins and iridescence through flashy dances and mock duels

🍽 Diet

• Type: Micro-predator
• Staple Foods:
• Micropellets and crushed flakes
• Live/frozen baby brine shrimp, daphnia, micro worms
• Occasional veggie-based foods or spirulina
• Feeding Tip: Feed small portions 1–2x daily; prefer food that stays mid-water

🐣 Breeding

• Spawning Style: Egg scatterer
• Behavior: Males display constantly; females lay small batches of eggs on moss or spawning mops
• Fry Care: Very small fry need infusoria or powdered fry food initially; separate parents from eggs for higher survival rates
• Bonus: They can breed regularly in a well-maintained, planted tank without effort

🎨 Appearance

• Body: Slender, translucent yellow-gold with subtle vertical barring
• Eyes: Vibrant neon blue
• Fins: Spotted with black or white; males have more pronounced finnage and color