Forktail Blue-eye
Melanotaeniidae sp.
The Forktail Blue-eye (Melanotaeniidae sp.) is a peaceful fish that's rewarding to keep. Give it a tank of at least 85 litres (22 US gallons), water held at 75-82°F, and a pH of 6.5-7.5.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
Australia
- Australia & Oceania
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Forktail Blue-eye Tank Setup
A tank of at least 85 litres (22 US gallons) works well. Keep the water at 75-82°F with a pH around 6.5-7.5, and set up both cover and open swimming space where they spend most of their time (Mid).
What Do Forktail Blue-eyes Eat?
They're not fussy eaters - feed a varied diet, rotating good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods rather than the same thing every day, and match the food size to their mouths.
Forktail Blue-eye Tank Mates
The Forktail Blue-eye is peaceful, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. Good matches come down to the whole stocking list working together - temperature, tank size, and temperament - not any single label. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Forktail Blue-eyes Good for Beginners?
Care demand varies by line and setup. Match the care level to how often you actually test and change water.
Forktail Blue-eye - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Forktail Blue-eyes need?
Forktail Blue-eyes need a tank of at least 85 litres (22 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
What water parameters do Forktail Blue-eyes need?
Keep them at 75-82°F with a pH of 6.5-7.5, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Forktail Blue-eyes eat?
Forktail Blue-eyes are omnivores and aren't fussy eaters. Feed a varied mix of good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods, and match the food size to their mouths. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Forktail Blue-eyes good for beginners?
It depends on the setup. Match Forktail Blue-eyes to how often you actually test water and perform maintenance.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Fish to avoid mixing with Forktail Blue-eyes
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- OscarPredator - Oscar will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Pea PufferPredator - Pea Puffer will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Betta (Male)Predator - Betta (Male) will eat or injure smaller tank mates
