Photo thanks to

Name:
Scientific name: Scaturiginichthys vermeilipinnis
Common name: Red-finned Blue-eye
AKA:

Country of origin: Australia

pH:
Temperature: 7 - 28c
Hardness:
Water flow: standard
Oxygenation: high

Maximum size: 3cm.

Diet: Their diet is not well known, but they are believed to be omnivores.

Breeding:
Males: red fins
Females: clear fins

They are an egg scatterer, and if provided with a mop or sufficient moss or plants, they can lay eggs, however they need to be kept from them by a division in the tank, or removal of the eggs or fish.

Tank companions:
It is NOT a good tank companion with shrimp.

Due to their rarity, they should be kept in a species-specific tank.

As with all fish, it will eat any fish it can fit in its mouth, and equally be eaten by any fish large enough to fit it in their mouths. This should be taken into account when if tank companions.

Tank:

Could be kept in a planted tank with heavy planting and floating plants, but some open swimming space.

It requires very high water quality (similar to discus requirements), with frequent large water changes.

Confused with:
Other blue-eyes.

It is the only species in its genus.

It exists in 5 springs in central Queensland, where it is predated on by Gambusia holbrooki, putting it at risk of extinction.

It is the smallest Australian native fish.

It is not known whether it is currently in the aquarium trade (amongst hobbyists).

Scaturiginichthys vermeilipinnis are NOT legal imports to Australia as of 20/10/2013:
http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiv...mport-list.pdf
however, as Australian natives, they can legally be purchased from Australian stock.

The IUCN Red List reports Scaturiginichthys vermeilipinnis as a species which is critically endangered, but needs updating at 20/10/2013:
http://www.iucnredlist.org/search

It is also listed as Endangered under Queensland's Nature Conservation Act 1992.

In September 2012, the species was placed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature list of 100 most endangered species on the planet.

The QLD government Dept of Environment & Heritage Protection reports that it is ranked as a critical priority under the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP) "Back on Track species prioritisation framework".

It is very important not to release any aquarium specimens into our waterways. Any that are not sold or re-homed/ given away, can often be re-sold to aquarium stores. If they are homed in ponds, care should be taken that they cannot escape in run-off into our waterways. Even if fish are native & local they should not be moved from one waterway to another, as this can transfer disease. If they are not local fish, they can both spread disease and either out-compete or eat local fish, shrimp & plants, causing their demise.

It is a good fish for experienced hobbyists.

DE
20/10/13

References:
http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/wildlife/a...d_blueeye.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-finned_blue-eye

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Dave Wilson's comments about the crayfish in another post made me think of the red finned blue eye.

Are there any captive populations of this fish??If there is some disaster at Edgebaston springs (or Gambusia get into the remaining pools) then there will be no captive fish to replenish the stocks

The lake form of M echamensis,now extinct in the wild,has been kept alive by one very dedicated hobbyist and is now more secure in captivity.Restocking the lake failed but at least we still have the fish

I was told by someone that one of the large public aquariums (Sydney or Melbourne)wont keep rainbowfish because they all die with TB (doesnt say much for their husbandry skills)

Why cant some fish be distributed to Dave and a few experienced hobbyist who can gain experience and distibute them further in the hobby; it sounds like the larger aquariums would kill them

I'll stop ranting now

killiguy

The thread continues here:
http://www.aquariumlife.com.au/showt...inned-blue-eye

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There are no pictures in the thread at this time.
If anyone has a picture of this fish that they could contribute - it would be greatly appreciated!