Spotted blue-eye facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Spotted blue-eye
Scientific classification

The spotted blue-eye (Pseudomugil gertrudae) is a tiny, colorful fish. It belongs to the Pseudomugilidae family. You can find this fish in Papua New Guinea and northern Australia. It's a popular choice for small freshwater aquariums because it adapts well.

Discovering the Spotted Blue-Eye

Who Named This Fish?

A scientist named Max Carl Wilhelm Weber first described the spotted blue-eye. He found it in 1911 on Trangan Island. This island is part of the Aru Islands. He named the fish gertrudae to honor Gertrude. She was the wife of Dr. Hugo Merton. Dr. Merton had visited the islands a few years earlier.

Other Names for the Fish

This fish has a few different common names. People often call it the delicate blue-eye. Other names include Gertrude's blue-eye and northern blue-eye.

What Does the Spotted Blue-Eye Look Like?

Size and Color

The spotted blue-eye is a small fish. It usually grows to about 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) long. Sometimes, it can reach 3 centimeters (1.2 inches). Its body is mostly clear or pale silver-white. It might have hints of tan or yellow.

Special Markings

The back half of its body has three black lines. These lines break into spots closer to its head. Its fins are yellow and have black marks. The fish's size, color, and shape can change depending on where it lives. For example, fish from the Aru Islands are bigger. Those near Darwin have orange fins. Fish from Goanna Lagoon have an orange body.

Where Do Spotted Blue-Eyes Live?

Their Natural Home

You can find the spotted blue-eye in rivers in southern New Guinea. They also live in the Aru Islands. In Australia, they are found in the Northern Territory and Cape York Peninsula (Queensland).

Their Favorite Places

These fish like small, slow-moving streams. These streams are often less than 60 centimeters (2 feet) deep. They also live in pools and swamps. These swamps often have Melaleuca or Pandanus trees. They can live in water with a wide range of pH levels. This means the water can be quite acidic or quite basic.

What Do Spotted Blue-Eyes Eat?

Scientists haven't studied their diet much. But we know they mostly eat algae. They also eat small invertebrates. Invertebrates are tiny creatures without backbones.

Reproduction

Breeding Habits

We don't know a lot about how they breed in the wild. But spotted blue-eyes breed easily when kept in aquariums. This makes them popular for fish enthusiasts.

Images for kids

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  A spotted blue-eye fish swimming.