Greg's Corner Archive July 2024 - Marvellous Mosquito-eaters

Gotta love Pseudomugils! This is still one of my favourite articles, and paved the way for the species profiles that I write for the Aquarist's Almanac

 

Greg's Corner July 2024 - Marvellous Mosquito-eaters

Greg’s Corner July: Marvellous Mosquito-eaters

Hello readers, and welcome to the (actual) July edition of Greg’s Corner. We’re two-thirds of the way through Winter, and Spring is just around the Corner. And with the warmer weather

and beautiful flowers comes everyone’s favourite insect – the Mosquito!  We all love to hate them – especially those of us with outdoor ponds or tanks who end up with thousands of

mosquito larvae.  Fortunately for us, there’s a native Australian fish that just adores to eat them. Enter pseudomugil signifier – the Pacific Blue Eye.                   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The Pacific Blue Eye is endemic to the Eastern Coast of Australia, and has been encountered in the wild from the Farthest
 Northern point of Cape York all the way down to Lake Merimbula in southern New South Wales. This fish is classified as a Euryhaline species, which means it   can live in waters of a wide range of salinity. It can live in freshwater creeks and rivers, estuaries and even fully saltwater environments.

Verified sightings of p. signifer in the wild. Courtesy of ala.org.au

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pseudomugil signifier Parameters

Temp:	20-26 recommended.
pH:	6-8
gH:	4-12
kH:	2-4
Maximum Size	4-7cm
Minimum Group Size:	8
Minimum Tank Size:	60x30cm (60L) well planted.
Temperament	Peaceful. Ideal for community tanks

 

 

Pacific Blue Eyes are a rather peaceful fish, and inhabit the top half of the water column. They are ideal for community tropical aquariums, and make a striking centre-piece for any planted tank. Be aware that the Pacific Blue Eye loves nothing more than hunting for small crustaceans and is not recommended in any tank containing shrimp or snails.

 

You should heavily plant your pseudomugil tank, and give them plenty of driftwood to play in. Leaf litter and other botanicals are also suitable, but not necessary if there’s enough timber. This will help emulate their native habitats making them happier and more active. And a happy fish displays more colour.

A photo of p.signifer habitat near Bundaberg, QLD. Photo © Walk the World Photography (myself)
 

As insectivores, you should feed your Pacific Blue Eyes with a floating or slow sinking insectivore pellet, and they will also appreciate fresh or frozen brine shrimp and blood/black worms. They will also typically take tropical flake but may need to be conditioned to it.

The Pacific Blue Eye is a beautiful Australian native fish and will make a bright and colourful addition to any community tropical tank. At the time of writing, p. signifier sells for between $10-$15ea meaning that buying a group for your tank is moderately expensive, but well worth the price if you ask me.

I hope you have learned a little more about this amazing native species and that maybe you’re interested in setting up a tank of your own. I’d love to hear from you if you do!

Until next time, this is Greg signing off!