Edit Nannostomus eques

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Name

Scientific name

Nannostomus eques

Described by

Authority Steindachner, Year 1876

Family

Lebiasinidae

Common names

Hockeystick Pencilfish

Photograph credits

All 7 credited

Summary

The hockeystick pencilfish, Nannostomus eques, is a lebiasinid from the central and upper Amazon, the Orinoco drainage and rivers of Guyana…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

35mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 60 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 22–28°C, pH 4.5–7.5

Hardness

1–10dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Peaceful

Community suitability

Community-safe

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Peru, Venezuela, Amazon, Curuni, Essequibo, Guaviare, Içá, Inírida, Japurá, Madeira, Negro, Orinoco, Putumayo, Solimões, Tapajós, Trombetas

Writing

Etymology

Nannostomus: from the Latin nannus, meaning 'small', and Greek stoma, meaning 'mouth', in reference to the small mouthparts of member species. eques: from the …

Distribution

Described from the Peruvian Amazon above Tabatinga, the latter being located in the Três Fronteiras region of Amazonas state, northwestern Brazil, where the bo…

Habitat

Inhabits sluggish tributaries, small rivers, and swampy zones, especially in areas where aquatic vegetation grows densely or with submerged woody structures an…

Aquarium size

Base dimensions of at least 60 ∗ 30 cm or equivalent are required.

Maintenance

Should ideally be kept in a heavily-planted set-up, preferably with a dark substrate and some patches of floating vegetation around which the fish will tend to…

Water conditions

Not written yet

Diet

A micropredator feeding on tiny invertebrates and other zooplankton in nature. In the aquarium it will accept dried foods of a suitable size but should also be…

Behaviour and compatibility

Very peaceful but does not make an ideal community fish due to its small size and rather timid nature. In a community it's best kept with similarly-sized, peac…

Very peaceful but does not make an ideal community fish due to its small size and rather timid nature.

In a community it's best kept with similarly-sized, peaceful characids and smaller callichthyid or loricariid catfishes.

It also makes an ideal dither fish for Apistogramma spp. and other dwarf cichlids since it tends to inhabit the middle-to-upper regions of the tank, and does not actively predate fry.

It's very much a gregarious animal so buy as many as possible, ideally 10 or more, as when kept in larger groups any aggression is spread between individuals plus the fish are bolder and exhibit more natural behaviour.

Unlike some relatives rival males rarely spar or do each other harm in any way.

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Where does this come from?

My own experienceFor example, I've kept twelve in a planted 60 cm tank since March 2024.A website I sawFor example, an IUCN Red List assessment, a museum catalogue or a FishBase page.A paperFor example, Marshall et al. (2011), Water temperature differences in interfluvial palm swamp habitats of Paracheirodon axelrodi and P. simulans.A book, or something not onlineFor example, Tappin (2010), Rainbowfishes: their care and keeping in captivity.Something already on the pageFor example, the Behaviour and compatibility section already says this.

Web address

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DOI

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Title

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Authors

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Year

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Pages

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Anything worth adding

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Sexual dimorphism

Adult males are more colourful and usually slimmer than females, and also possess an enlarged anal-fin.

Reproduction

Has been achieved in aquaria, albeit rarely, and in a densely-planted, mature aquarium it's possible that small numbers of fry may start to appear without inte…

Notes

This species has been referred to the genera Poecilobrycon and Nannobrycon in the past and in the aquarium hobby is also known as 'rocket', 'brown', 'brown-tai…

References

7 on this profile

Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Common names

Photograph credits

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Aquarium size

Water

Water conditions

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Writing

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References