Paska's Blue-Eye Rainbowfish (Pseudomugil paskai) – Peaceful Shoaling Fish

Paska's Blue-Eye Rainbowfish (Pseudomugil paskai) is a small, peaceful Papua New Guinea blue-eye known for bright reflective eyes, fine yellow-orange fins and active group displays. It stays around 3–4cm as an adult, so the attraction is not size but the movement and colour of a proper shoal in a mature planted aquarium.

One quantity supplies one unsexed fish. This is a social species, so plan a group rather than a single specimen. Eight or more is a useful target where the aquarium can support them.

Paska's Blue-Eye at a glance

Aquarium setup

Use a mature planted aquarium with open mid-to-upper swimming space, fine-leaved plants around the edges and some floating cover. A dark background and subdued areas often help the blue eyes and yellow-orange fins stand out, but the layout should still leave enough open water for the group to display.

Gentle to moderate filtration with good surface movement is suitable. These fish are small but active, so filtration must be mature and ammonia and nitrite should remain at zero. A secure lid is important because blue-eyes can jump when startled.

Feeding

Paska's Blue-Eyes have small mouths. Use micro pellets, finely crushed quality flake or another fine prepared staple, then rotate suitably sized foods such as cyclops, daphnia and baby brine shrimp. Offer one or two small meals daily and stop before food is left drifting around the aquarium.

In a community tank, watch that larger fish do not take every particle before the blue-eyes feed. Food size and access matter more than brand names or feeding large amounts.

Tank mates

Choose calm, small community fish that share the same warm water and will not nip fins or dominate feeding. Other peaceful blue-eyes and delicate small rainbowfish can work in a suitably sized aquarium. Avoid large cichlids, aggressive barbs and anything capable of swallowing a 3–4cm fish.

Adult shrimp may coexist in a planted aquarium, but shrimplets can be eaten. If shrimp breeding is the priority, a fish-free shrimp tank is safer.

Breeding

Paska's Blue-Eyes are egg scatterers that deposit adhesive eggs among fine plants or spawning mops. A dedicated breeding tank makes egg collection easier because adults may eat eggs or fry. Newly hatched fry need very small first foods before moving onto baby brine shrimp and fine prepared fry food.

Paska's Blue-Eye questions

How many should I keep?

Keep at least six. A group of eight or more is preferable where the aquarium has enough space and filtration.

How large do they grow?

Adults are usually around 3–4cm.

What tank size do they need?

40 litres is a practical minimum for a small species-focused group, while 45–60 litres or more is easier to keep stable and gives more room for a community.

What temperature is best?

Keep them around 24–28°C, with stable water more important than chasing one exact number.

Are they aggressive?

No. Males may display and make short chases, but the species is generally peaceful when kept in a proper group.

What should I feed them?

Use fine prepared foods as the staple, supported by small frozen or live foods such as cyclops, daphnia and baby brine shrimp.

Can they live with shrimp?

Adult shrimp may coexist, but tiny shrimplets can be eaten.

Do they need a planted aquarium?

Plants are strongly recommended because they provide cover, spawning surfaces and a more secure environment, but leave open swimming room too.

Can I keep one on its own?

No. This is a social shoaling fish and should be kept with several of its own species.