It is endemic to southeastern Queensland, Australia, where it is found in mildly acidic, often tannin-stained, ponds and streams in wallum habitat.

It has blue cheeks and a single fine midlateral line running along its body from the tip of the pectoral fin backwards.

Male honey blue-eyes have distinct black submarginal bands and white margins on their dorsal, anal and caudal fins.

[1] It is listed as vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 nationally in Australia,[2] and under state-based legislation in Queensland.

[2] Within its range, three invasive fish species—eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki), green swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii) and southern platyfish (X. maculatus)—have established themselves, though their extent is unknown.

The aggressive eastern mosquitofish is known to impact on other fish species, and is still introduced to streams in the mistaken belief it assists with mosquito control.