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"Broken River, a southern tributary of the mighty Burdekin, These fish were found well upstream near Eungella west of Mackay, central coastal Queensland. Seen here are 4cm SL sparring males in breeding colour. Specimens courtesy of Adrian Dawson." - Gunther Schmida
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"A pair of Pacific Blue-eyes, Pseudomugil signifer, in action. The red colour of the male's fins is most likely environment related. The fish were found in a swamp with brackish coffee-coloured water behind coastal dunes in the Byron Bay region, NSW, and the red fins turned to the 'normal' yellow after about six month in a tank. Fish courtesy of Daryl Franks." - Gunther Schmida
"The Orange in Signifer fins intrigues me. In the Caboolture River I caught both orange and yellow finned fish together, now after 6 months the orange is still present. However it was never anywhere near as bright as the orange in your picture, even when caught." - Kye Turnbull
"They are almost certainly red/orange from a high level of carotenoids in theur diet. In the wild these come from pollen in the gut of insects they eat.
In the aquarium, paprika, pureed red or purple carrots or beets can be used and either gut loaded in worms or daphnis or mixed in prepared (paste) food." - Richard Sexton
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"Colosseum Creek near Miriamvale, southern coastal Queensland. Most of the southern forms in the range of the species look similar. The rays of the first dorsal fin may be elongated in old males, but 2nd dorsal and anal fin are relatively short. So are the ventrals. Colour can vary from yellow to deep orange and even red." - Gunther Schmida
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This form of Pacific Blue-eyes, Pseudomugil signifer, was found in a waterhole of the Connors River, Fitzroy River catchment, "Queensland, about 300km from the sea. This tiny form that did not exceed 2.5cm SL. fully grown. In the south of their long but narrow range Pacific blue-eyes are usually found in marine and estuarine environment and in freshwater only near the coast. In the north they have penetrated well upstream in some of the catchments. Specimens courtesy of Gavin Brown." - Gunther Schmida
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"Harvey Creek in the Mulgrave - Russel Rivers catchment. This is the dominant male of the first collection I had made in 1978. I have also collected this form with its distinctively long but narrow fins at other locations in this catchment in later years, as well as in a tiny coastal creek near Innisfail. These fish sported bright red fins like some of the other forms.
Narrow finned fish have also been reported from much of Cape York Peninsula including some of the Torres Strait islands, as well as near Weipa on the west coast of the cape. Some also have red fins." - Gunther Schmida
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"These 5cm SL sparring males of Pacific Blue-eyes, Pseudomugil signifer, are from the Little Mulgrave River, in the Mulgrave-Russel river catchments that drain the coastal region between Cairns and Innisfail in the Wet Tropics. This form is often called Cairns Blue-eye. Males tend to be very territorial and aggressive. In older literature and recent European publications it is called Pseudomugil signatus. although this is not yet recognized in Australia. Specimens courtesy of Dr. Bruce Hansen and Jason Sulda" - Gunther Schmida
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"Two 5.5cm SL prime male Townsville Blue-eyes, Pseudomugil signifer, from the tidal reaches of the Ross River, but kept and bred in soft freshwater. Specimens courtesy of Leo O'Reilly. Can't help thinking that they may be a different species altogether. - Gunther Schmida
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"These 5cm SL sparring males are from Yeates Creek, south of Bowen, dry tropics, Queensland. Note the larger fins and elongated fin rays. These fish came from estuarine conditions and adapted well to soft freshwater. Specimens courtesy of Glynn Aland." - Gunther Schmida
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