Forktail Blue-Eye Rainbowfish
Pseudomugil furcatus
Also known as Popondetta Blue-Eye, Furcata Rainbowfish
Edited by Ivan F. · Reviewed
Beginner verdict
A small, surface-loving fish with bright blue eyes and yellow fins that fork at the tail. It is peaceful and suits a densely planted tank alongside fish of similar size. It prefers harder water than many small fish, so check your tap before you buy.
Care at a glance
- Min tank size
- 14 US gal
- Footprint
- 24 x 12 in
- Temperature
- 75–82 °F
- pH
- 7–8
- Hardness
- 15–30 dGH
- Swim zone
- Top
- Min group
- 8 or more
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
Forktail Blue-Eye Rainbowfish tank mates and swim zone
Top
Spends most of its time in this part of the tank.
Hemigrammus erythrozonus
Puntius titteya
Corydoras aeneus
Corydoras aeneus (albino)
Crossocheilus oblongus
Apistogramma borellii
Danio rerio
Their temperature ranges barely overlap, so you will have little room for error.
Danio margaritatus
Celestial Pearl Danio is small and shy, and is easily outcompeted for food by Forktail Blue-Eye Rainbowfish.
Barbodes semifasciolatus
Their temperature ranges barely overlap, so you will have little room for error.
Poecilia wingei
Endler's Livebearer is small and shy, and is easily outcompeted for food by Forktail Blue-Eye Rainbowfish.
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
One needs much harder water than the other can tolerate.
Forktail Blue-Eye Rainbowfish feeding and care
How to feed
- Feed small floating foods near the surface, where it naturally hunts.
- Offer baby brine shrimp or daphnia often, as it mostly eats tiny prey.
- Feed small portions you can see finished within a couple of minutes, because overfeeding fouls the water fast.
Telling males from females
Males are more colorful, with fins that grow longer as they mature. Females are smaller and plainer.
Forktail Blue-Eye Rainbowfish care mistakes to avoid
- Do not buy just one or two. Keep at least 8 fish so they feel secure.
- Check your water first. It prefers hard water that many soft-water fish dislike.
- Avoid nippers and large fish, because its fine fins and small size make it an easy target.
- Keep a shoal with both sexes, which encourages daily display and better color.
- Check your tank before you buy. Our sourced minimum is 14 US gallons.
Forktail Blue-Eye Rainbowfish tank setup
A forgiving setup with room for a small community.
TankAt least 14 US gal (54 L), 60 x 30 cm
The smallest tank our sources give for Forktail Blue-Eye Rainbowfish. We list only tanks that hold this volume (allowing 10%, so a standard size counts) and have at least this much floor.
Aqueon Standard Glass Aquarium 20 Long US
Aqueon Standard Glass Aquarium 29 Gallon US
Eheim clearTank 73 Spain
Why we chose these (Best 20-Gallon Fish Tank: 20 Long or 29?). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Starter kitA kit with the tank, filter and light in one box
We list only kits whose tank fits Forktail Blue-Eye Rainbowfish, up to twice its minimum volume. A kit whose heater has a fixed setting shows only when that setting is inside Forktail Blue-Eye Rainbowfish's temperature range.
Tetra Complete LED Aquarium Kit 20 Gallon US
Check the heater's setting
Tetra Starter Line LED Aquarium 54 L Spain
Heater preset to 25 °C
Tetra Starter Line LED Aquarium 80 L Spain
Heater preset to 25 °C
Why we chose these (Best Aquarium Starter Kit: What to Look For). Nobody here has used or tested them.
FilterHang-on-back or large sponge filter
Easy to maintain and strong enough for a community without blasting the fish.
Seachem Tidal 55 Power Filter US
Marineland Penguin PRO 175 Power Filter US
Eheim LiBERTY 130 Hang-on Filter Spain
Seachem Tidal 35 Power Filter Spain
Why we chose these (Best Filter for a 20 to 29-Gallon Tank). Nobody here has used or tested them.
HeaterKeep it at 75–82 °F (24–28 °C)
Adjustable heater, about 5 W per gallon: 100 W at 20 gallons, about 150 W at 29. Enough power to hold a stable temperature in most homes. Size up for a cold room.
Aqueon Pro Adjustable Heater 100 W US
Aqueon Submersible Glass Heater 100 W US
Eheim Thermocontrol e 100 Heater Spain
Tetra HT 100 Electronic Heater Spain
Why we chose these (Best Heater for a 20 to 29-Gallon Tank). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Water conditionerDechlorinator such as Seachem Prime
Tap water contains chlorine or chloramine that harms fish.
Seachem Prime US
Fritz Complete Water Conditioner US
API Betta Water Conditioner US
sera aquatan Spain
Tetra AquaSafe Spain
Sold at Kiwoko · Sold at Tiendanimal · Sold at zooplus.es · Maker's details
Why we chose these (Best Water Conditioner for Betta Fish). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Test kitLiquid kit such as API Freshwater Master
Tracks ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH while the tank cycles.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit US
API General & Carbonate Hardness Test Kit US
See it at The Shrimp Farm (a retailer; affiliate link) · Sold at Bulk Reef Supply · Maker's details
sera aqua-test box (Cl) Spain
JBL PROAQUATEST COMBISET Plus NH4 Spain
Why we chose these (Best Test Kit for a Freshwater Aquarium). Nobody here has used or tested them.
SubstrateAny substrate
We are still choosing products for this.
Hiding places and decorBest kept densely planted; floating plants and driftwood roots or branches are appreciated.
We are still choosing products for this.
PlantsSafe with live plants
Cycle the tank before adding animals. See our guide on how to cycle a fish tank.
Where to buy Forktail Blue-Eye Rainbowfish
Stores that list it under the same scientific name as this page. Links marked as affiliate links may earn us a commission. We have not bought from them, so check each store's own terms.
See it at The Shrimp Farm (a retailer; affiliate link)
We have not found a store that sells Forktail Blue-Eye Rainbowfish under its scientific name yet. We add stores as we confirm them.
Live animals and plants travel by courier. Check the store's live-arrival guarantee, and only buy once your tank has cycled (see how to cycle a fish tank).
Some US states restrict certain species. Check our US state aquarium rules table and your state's own rules before you buy.
Forktail Blue-Eye Rainbowfish FAQ
What size tank do Forktail Blue-Eye Rainbowfish need?
Our sourced minimum is 14 US gallons (54 liters), with a footprint of 60 x 30 cm. A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable.
How many Forktail Blue-Eye Rainbowfish should I keep?
Keep at least 8 fish. Bigger groups usually look better and behave more confidently.
What can live with Forktail Blue-Eye Rainbowfish?
Good matches on our list include Glowlight Tetra, Cherry Barb and Bronze Corydoras. Avoid Neon Tetra and Cardinal Tetra.
How long do Forktail Blue-Eye Rainbowfish live?
Lifespan is not well documented for this species. Stable water and a good diet help any animal live longer.
Are forktail blue-eyes good in a planted tank?
Yes. They do best in a densely planted tank, and fine-leaved plants give them somewhere to scatter their eggs.
Forktail Blue-Eye Rainbowfish facts and sources
- Family
- Pseudomugilidae
- Native to
- Eastern Papua New Guinea
- Adult size
- 2.4 in (6 cm)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social needs
- Schooling/Shoaling (6+)
- Diet
- Micro-Predator
- Water flow
- Gentle
- Substrate
- Any
- Live plants
- Yes - Loves Plants
- Shrimp
- Adult Shrimp Only
- Fin nipping
- None
- Vulnerable to nippers
- Yes
- Breeding
- Moderate
Sources
- Seriously Fish: Tank size, water ranges and behavior
- FishBase: Cross-check of water ranges and size
Lifespans are approximate and come from aquarium care guides, because these databases rarely publish them.
Where sources differ, we show the Seriously Fish aquarium figures.
Spotted something wrong? Report a parameter correction. For a sick fish, see our veterinary disclaimer.