Spotted Headstander care guide
Spotted Headstander (Chilodus punctatus) — minimum tank 150 L, temperature 24-28 °C, pH 5.5-7.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
The Spotted Headstander (Chilodus punctatus) is a slim anostomid that holds its body at a pronounced 45-degree head-down angle. The body is silvery with rows of small dark spots and a dark lateral stripe.
Taxonomy
- Family: Anostomidae
- Genus: Chilodus
- Scientific name: Chilodus punctatus
Habitat
Native to slow-flowing soft, acidic tributaries of the upper Amazon and Orinoco basins in Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela and Peru, often among submerged roots and leaf litter.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 150 L (39.6 US gal)
- Adult size: 8-10 cm
- Temperature: 24-28 °C (75-82 °F)
- pH: 5.5-7
- GH: 2-12 °dGH
- Water flow: low
- Lifespan: 5-8 years
- School size: ≥6 individuals
Diet
An omnivore. Offer micro-pellets, flakes and small live or frozen foods such as bloodworms and daphnia. The species also browses on biofilm and soft algae.
Compatibility
A peaceful shoaling species. Keep a group of at least six in a planted, dimly lit aquarium with soft acidic water. Compatible with other peaceful soft-water characins and dwarf cichlids.
Breeding
Captive breeding has been reported occasionally; spawning occurs in very soft, acidic water among fine-leaved plants. Most commercial stock is wild-caught.
Spotted Headstander (Chilodus punctatus) Breeding Guide
Overview
Chilodus punctatus, the spotted headstander, is a smaller and more peaceful anostomid than its larger relatives, reaching about 70-80 mm standard length and distributed across the Amazon system in Ecuador, Peru and Brazil, the western Orinoco in Colombia, and coastal drainages in Guyana and Suriname (Seriously Fish).
Sexing
According to Seriously Fish, males develop a slightly more extended dorsal fin than females, while females tend toward a rounder overall body shape at maturity.
Conditioning
The maintenance range reported by Seriously Fish is 20-28 degrees C, pH 5.0-7.5 and 18-179 ppm hardness; specific breeding-tuned parameters are not stated. Soft, acidic conditions toward the lower end of these ranges suit this Amazon species.
Breeding Setup
Seriously Fish does not give a detailed spawning setup, noting that breeding has apparently occurred but that full details were unavailable. As a presumed egg scatterer with no parental care (Seriously Fish), a densely planted aquarium with soft acidic water is consistent with the documented natural pattern.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Seriously Fish presumes the species is an egg scatterer exhibiting no parental care that spawns at the onset of the wet season, suggesting that simulating wet-season conditions may help induce spawning.
Egg & Fry Care
Detailed egg and fry-rearing data are unavailable; Seriously Fish states breeding has apparently occurred but the details could not be obtained, so specific protocols are omitted rather than guessed.
Common Challenges
The main challenge is the lack of a fully documented protocol: with eggs presumed scattered and unguarded (Seriously Fish), dense planting is needed to protect them, and replicating the wet-season trigger is the likely key step.