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Nitidus Pencilfish Care Guide

Nannostomus nitidus is a small pencilfish from the Capim River basin of Pará, Brazil, with a thin dark lateral stripe and care typical of the genus.

Overview

Nannostomus nitidus is a small pencilfish of the family Lebiasinidae, described by Weitzman in 1978. It is a subtle species with a thin black lateral stripe, similar in form and care to other members of its genus. FishBase gives a maximum standard length of about 3.5 cm.

Taxonomy

  • Family: Lebiasinidae
  • Genus: Nannostomus
  • Scientific name: Nannostomus nitidus (Weitzman, 1978)

Habitat

FishBase records the species from the Capim River basin in Pará, Brazil. It is a freshwater, benthopelagic fish of tropical lowland waters.

Tank requirements

  • Minimum tank volume: 60 L
  • Temperature: 24-28 °C (75-82 °F)
  • pH: 5.0-6.5
  • GH: 1-8 °dGH (soft water preferred)
  • School size: 6 or more individuals
  • Lifespan: 3-5 years
  • A planted tank with gentle filtration suits this small species

Diet

Like other small Nannostomus, it is a micropredator. A varied diet of small live and frozen foods such as Artemia nauplii and Moina, supplemented with suitably sized dried preparations, is recommended.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2018).

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