HomeFreshwater aquarium fishRainbowfish & killifishForktail rainbowfish Forktail rainbowfish (Pseudomugil furcatus) Scientific name: Pseudomugil furcatus Nichols, 1955 The Forktail rainbowfish (Pseudomugil furcatus) is a freshwater fish of the family Pseudomugilidae that grows to about 5 cm (2 in). It is easy to keep and peaceful, suits community aquariums and needs a tank of at least 75 L (20 US gal), water at 24–26°C (75–79°F) and a pH of 6.0–8.0. Native range: Asia, Known only from the lowlands of eastern Papua New Guinea between Dyke Ackland Bay and Collingwood Bay. Forktail rainbowfish care at a glanceCare levelEasyTemperamentPeacefulCommunity tankGoodAdult size5 cm (2 in)Minimum tank75 L (20 US gal)Temperature24–26°C (75–79°F)pH6.0–8.0Hardness5–12 dGH (89–214 ppm)DietOmnivore. Accepts flakes, frozen foods and live foods. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 4 - 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-9; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 15 - 18Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific namePseudomugil furcatusFamilyPseudomugilidae (Blue eyes)OrderAtheriniformes (Silversides)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length5.0EnvironmentFreshwater;; pH range: 6.0 - 8.0; dH range: 5 - 12 benthopelagicClimateTropicalDistributionOceania: known only from the lowlands of eastern Papua New Guinea between Dyke Ackland Bay and Collingwood Bay.Conservation status (IUCN)Lower Risk: least concern (LR/lc)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial More rainbowfish & killifishDwarf rainbowfishMelanotaenia praecoxLake Kutubu rainbowfishMelanotaenia lacustrisTami River rainbowfishGlossolepis pseudoincisusRed rainbowfishGlossolepis incisusBlackfin pearlfishAustrolebias nigripinnisJavanese ricefishOryzias javanicusSee all rainbowfish & killifish Can it live with...?Forktail rainbowfish and Black ghostForktail rainbowfish and Black sharkminnowForktail rainbowfish and Blackbarred limiaForktail rainbowfish and Blackfin pearlfishForktail rainbowfish and Bleeding-heart tetraForktail rainbowfish and Bloodfin tetraForktail rainbowfish and Bluespotted corydorasForktail rainbowfish and Brilliant rasboraForktail rainbowfish and Butterfly splitfinForktail rainbowfish and Chinese suckerForktail rainbowfish and Clown barbForktail rainbowfish and Clown loachForktail rainbowfish and Clown rasboraForktail rainbowfish and Crescent bettaForktail rainbowfish and Dwarf botiaForktail rainbowfish and Dwarf rainbowfishForktail rainbowfish and Eel LoachForktail rainbowfish and Gangetic leaffishForktail rainbowfish and Garnet tetraForktail rainbowfish and Glass catfishForktail rainbowfish and Glowlight tetraForktail rainbowfish and Goldeneye cichlidForktail rainbowfish and Head-and-taillight tetraForktail rainbowfish and Horseface loachForktail rainbowfish and Indian glassy fishForktail rainbowfish and Javanese ricefishForktail rainbowfish and Lake Kutubu rainbowfishForktail rainbowfish and Leopard corydorasForktail rainbowfish and MosquitofishForktail rainbowfish and Mountain rainbowfish SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Aquarium care parameters compiled, checked and converted to metric and imperial units by Guppies.za.net.Last updated 28 September 2026