Forktail Blue-eye

Geographical Origin and Habitat:

This species resides in pristine, clear rainforest streams draining the mountains of Milne Bay Province, at the southeastern tip of Papua New Guinea.

Morphology and Male Dance:

The peculiarity of this species is its swimming style and fin anatomy. The pectoral fins (the "arms") are transparent with bright yellow or white edges and are held raised above the back and waved continuously (hence the other English name "Popondetta"). During "sparring", two males swim in parallel vibrating and darting, a beautiful behavior that almost never results in any real physical damage.

Tank Setup:

A 60 cm (24-inch) long aquarium is the ideal habitat to start a lively school. The tank must be designed dichotomously: very dense forests (of Limnophila, mosses, ferns) in the back and sides where females can rest, and an empty stage in the center where males can engage in their endless cross-dance duels. The tank must necessarily have a lid: during their frantic surface parades they easily jump out of the aquarium.

Diet:

They have very small upward-facing mouths. They will voraciously eat any granular or flake food if properly crushed, but to trigger the neon yellow colors and reproductive drive you will have to spoil them with brine shrimp nauplii, micro-daphnia, and wingless fruit flies (Drosophila). If fed with normal supermarket dry food, the yellow color will fade into a dull grey-green.

Water Quality:

Here is a huge advantage compared to popular micro-fish like Boraras or Neon Tetras: *Pseudomugil furcatus* detest peaty and acidic water. They thrive in common medium-hard tap water (pH 7.2 - 8.0, GH above 5). If your home water is very soft or you are using pure osmosis, they will tend to get sick.