Edit Nannostomus minimus

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Name

Scientific name

Nannostomus minimus

Described by

Authority Eigenmann, Year 1909

Family

Lebiasinidae

Common names

Least Pencilfish

Photograph credits

All 5 credited

Summary

The least pencilfish, Nannostomus minimus, is a tiny lebiasinid from the Potaro and Mazaruni systems of the Essequibo basin in Guyana. The …

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

23mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 45 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm, Water movement Low: still or sluggish water

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 22–28°C, pH 4–6.5

Hardness

1–5dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Peaceful

Community suitability

Not for a community

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Guyana, Essequibo, Kurupung, Mazaruni, Potaro

Writing

Etymology

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

Distribution

Type locality is 'Erukin, Guyana' which appears to correspond to a creek of that name within the Potaro River system, with one specimen also deriving from Amat…

Habitat

Inhabits sluggish blackwater tributaries, small rivers and swampy areas, particularly in areas with dense growth of aquatic or overhanging riparian vegetation,…

Aquarium size

Base dimensions of at least 45 ∗ 30 cm or equivalent are required.

Maintenance

Should ideally be kept in a heavily-planted set-up, preferably with a dark substrate. The broken lines of sight that exist in such a display allow it to displa…

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. Ideally it should be maintained alone or at most with di…

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

Ideally it should be maintained alone or at most with diminutive, non-aggressive 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.

Though gregarious by nature it's a shoaling rather than schooling species with rival males sparring on a regular basis during daylight hours.

Buy as many as possible, ideally 10 or more, as when kept in larger groups the fish are bolder and exhibit more natural behaviour.

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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 intensely-patterned, possess more colour in the fins, and are usually slimmer than females.

Reproduction

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

Notes

This species is poorly-known in the aquarium hobby but is available on occasion and has been exported under the name of its congener N. marilynae. Weitzman (19…

References

5 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