Description
Gertrude’s Spotted Blue Eye Rainbowfish (scientific name: Pseudomugil Gertrudea) is a variant of the blue eye rainbowfish. The males are normally seen in moderately compressed and elongated bodies covered with iridescent yellow and blue coloration, while the females are typically smaller and have an attractive orange-yellow hue. Their fins are the highlight parts of their appearance as they display the special white silvery-grey or yellow with rounded or oblong dark spots scattered all over.
The beautiful Gertrude’s Rainbowfish is an outgoing, hardy, and easy-to-care-for species. In wild habitats, they are mostly found in densely floating planted areas with quite low water hardness. Hence, they appreciate home aquariums that share similar conditions. This Rainbowfish is also known for its inability to cope with various ranges of water parameters; therefore, creating and maintaining a stable living condition is crucial for them to thrive.
Gertrude’s Spotted Blue Eye Rainbowfish is a shoaling fish. They are normally kept in groups of 8 or more, and in no circumstances should be kept in single. Otherwise, the fish tends to be frightened and get stressed easily. As a completely peaceful species, Gertrude’s Blue Eye Rainbowfish can be housed with other fish as long as they have comparable size, disposition, and living requirements. Be careful when choosing their tank mates since your Gertrude’s Rainbow Fish are timid and easily outcompeted for food by more aggressive eaters. Providing a lot of swimming space and hiding places is important if you keep many males in the same tank. It is reported that the dominant males may show harassment behaviors toward the subdominants in certain cases.
Some experienced aquarists tip that your aquarium may look more attractive if Gertrude fish are kept with dark substrate. In this case, their coloration will be more intense and surely a focal point of the tank.
At Splashy Fish, our Gertrude’s Rainbowfish for sale and other Rainbowfish for sale are tank-bred with expert care and shipped with Live Arrival Guarantee. We also offer a wide variety of betta fish for sale, freshwater fish for sale, aquarium plants for sale, and other aquarium supplies to complete your setup.
What You Can Expect From This Fish:
Peaceful, hardy, and outgoing species
Safe with aquatic plants, especially floating ones
One of the smallest blue eye rainbowfish
RECOMMENDED TANK PARAMETERS:
Temperature: 73° – 86°F (23° – 30°C)
pH: 5.0 – 7.5
KH: 12-15
Minimum tank size: 10 gallons or more
CARE GUIDELINES:
Diet: Flake foods, small frozen or live meaty food (such as baby brine shrimp and daphnia) for optimal coloration
Social behavior: Peaceful, schooling/ shoaling, outgoing
Origin: Indonesia, New Guinea, Australia
Average adult size: 1.2 – 1.5 inches (3 – 3.8 cm)
Average purchase size: 0.5 – 1 inches (1.2 – 2.5 cm)
See more details on How to Care for Rainbow Fish here.
Gertrude’s Rainbow Fish Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the largest Gertrude’s Rainbow Fish size?
Gertrude’s Rainbow Fish, also known as Pseudomugil gertrudae or Spotted Blue-eye Rainbowfish, are petite nano fish that typically reach a maximum size of about 1.2 to 1.4 inches (3–3.5 cm) in home aquariums. Their small, slender bodies make them ideal for nano tanks and heavily planted setups, where their striking blue eyes and spotted fins can truly stand out.
Are Gertrude’s Rainbow Fish easy to keep?
Yes, Gertrude’s Rainbow Fish are considered easy to keep and are well-suited for both beginner and experienced aquarists. They are hardy, peaceful, and adapt well to a range of water parameters, provided their tank is stable and well-maintained. These active, schooling fish thrive in planted tanks with gentle filtration, clean water, and a varied diet of micro pellets, crushed flakes, and small live or frozen foods like baby brine shrimp. Keeping them in groups of six or more will encourage their natural social behaviors and vivid coloration.
How many species of blue-eyed Rainbow Fish?
There are over a dozen recognized species of blue-eyed Rainbow Fish (genus Pseudomugil), native to Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands. Popular species include Gertrude’s Rainbow Fish (Pseudomugil gertrudae), Forktail Blue-eye (Pseudomugil furcatus), Neon Blue-eye (Pseudomugil luminatus), and Red Neon Blue-eye (Pseudomugil paskai). Each species has its own unique coloration and care requirements, but all are prized for their brilliant blue eyes and peaceful, active nature.
