Diptail Pencilfish Care Guide
Nannostomus eques is a small Amazonian pencilfish famous for its oblique, snout-up swimming posture and gentle, gregarious nature.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Nannostomus eques is a small pencilfish of the family Lebiasinidae. It is one of only two Nannostomus species that habitually swim at an oblique, snout-up angle, the other being Nannostomus unifasciatus. The body is slender and elongated, marked by a brown horizontal stripe. According to Seriously Fish it reaches roughly 25-35 mm in standard length.
Taxonomy
- Family: Lebiasinidae
- Genus: Nannostomus
- Scientific name: Nannostomus eques (Steindachner, 1876)
Habitat
Seriously Fish records the species widely across the central and upper Amazon region of Brazil, Peru and Colombia, the Orinoco drainage in Venezuela, and rivers of Guyana. It favours slow-moving and still waters, often among aquatic and overhanging vegetation.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 60 L
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- pH: 5.0-7.0
- GH: 1-8 °dGH (soft water preferred)
- School size: 6 or more, ideally 10 or more
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
- Provide a planted, gently filtered tank with subdued lighting
Diet
In nature Nannostomus eques is a micropredator feeding on tiny invertebrates. Seriously Fish recommends daily meals of small live and frozen foods such as Artemia nauplii, Moina and grindal worm; dried foods are accepted but should not form the entire diet.
Compatibility
This is a very peaceful but timid fish, best kept in a group of ten or more so that natural behaviour is expressed. It suits quiet community setups with similarly sized peaceful characids and works well as a dither fish for Apistogramma and other dwarf cichlids. Fast or boisterous tankmates are best avoided.
Breeding
Unlike most relatives, Seriously Fish notes that Nannostomus eques deposits its eggs in single batches on the underside of plant leaves rather than scattering them. Fry are reported to become free-swimming by the fifth or sixth day.
Diptail Pencilfish Breeding Guide
Overview
Nannostomus eques is a small pencilfish from the central and upper Amazon in Brazil, Peru and Colombia, also reaching the Orinoco drainage and Guyana. Seriously Fish records a size of 25-35 mm SL, and the species characteristically swims at an oblique angle. It is an egg-layer that, unusually for the genus, deposits eggs on the underside of plant leaves.
Sexing
Adult males are more colourful and usually slimmer than females, and possess an enlarged anal fin (Seriously Fish). Females are rounder-bodied, especially when carrying eggs.
Conditioning
The species is a micropredator; condition adults with daily small live and frozen foods such as Artemia nauplii, Moina and grindal worm, alongside fine dried foods. Soft, acidic water suits it: Seriously Fish gives 22-28 C and pH 4.5-7.5, while FishBase lists pH 5.0-6.0 and hardness 5-12 dH for spawning conditions.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Unlike most congeners, Nannostomus eques deposits its eggs in single batches on the underside of plant leaves rather than scattering them freely (Seriously Fish). Fine-leaved plants therefore provide the spawning sites.
Egg & Fry Care
Fry become free-swimming by the 5th or 6th day. According to Seriously Fish the first food should be Paramecium or a proprietary dry food of sufficiently small grade (about 5-50 microns), moving on to Artemia nauplii once the fry are large enough.