Ivantsoff’s Blue Eye Rainbowfish (Pseudomugil Ivantsoffi) – Tank-Bred!

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This beautiful, rare species boasts incredible red and yellow coloration and extended fin filaments in mature males!

 

The Ivantsoff’s Blue Eye Rainbowfish, (Pseudomugil ivantsoffi) is one of the lesser widespread variants of the Blue Eye Rainbowfish and is native to West Papua New Guinea, Indonesia. It lives in very large schools in areas with dense vegetation, so it is an ideal candidate for the planted aquarium and especially enjoys the cover of floating plants. Males display vibrant red and yellow coloration on their extended fins. Females are also colorful, though somewhat less so than males.

 

The Ivantsoff’s Blue Eye Rainbowfish is peaceful with other fish species of similar size and can even be kept with adult dwarf shrimp. The most intense color will be displayed when this fish is kept in schools of 6 or more, including multiple males, in a heavily planted, spacious aquarium to ensure that subdominant males are not overly harassed by dominant males. As with many rainbowfish, darker substrate will also often result in better coloration. 

 

While this fish will easily accept high quality flake foods, it should also be fed plenty of small frozen or live meaty foods for optimal health and coloration. The Ivantsoff’s Blue Eye Rainbowfish is a somewhat timid fish compared to more aggressive schooling fish (such as larger tetras), so it can easily be outcompeted for food by more aggressive eaters. Care must be taken to ensure that it gets its share of food. Otherwise, it is a very undermanding and hardy fish that is very active with a great deal of personality.

 

The entire family of rainbowfish is popular in freshwater aquaria due to the generally peaceful disposition, hardiness, and beautiful coloration of its members. While many popular rainbowfish species eventually become too large to be kept with dwarf shrimp and some other nano species, the Ivantsoff’s Blue Eye Rainbowfish is one of a few exceptions. Fully grown rainbowfish of this species are typically safe to keep even with adult dwarf shrimp and virtually all non-aggressive invertebrates that we offer.