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Characins
/ Lebiasinidae / Three-striped Pencilfish
Three-striped Pencilfish, Tube-mouthed Pencilfish
Nannostomus eques | Pictures
Synonyms: Nannostomus
eques, Poecilobrycon auratus, P. eques
Physical description: A slender, elongated fish that has a pointed head.
The lower half of the caudal fin is
larger than the upper part.
Five rows of dark spots are located on the pale brown to light gray back.
Below these markings, a wide band extends
from the tip of the snout to the lower part of the caudal fin.
The upper lobe of the caudal fin is usually transparent,
as are the other fins.
On the anal fin, is a small black and red marking.
Size/Length: To 2" (5 cm)
Similar species: One-lined Pencilfish (
Nannobrycon unifasciatus)
Habitat: Found in small streams with heavy shore vegetation.
South America; middle reaches of the
Amazon, Brazil; Rio Negro, Guyana, Western Columbia
S: top
Aquarium: 20" (50 cm) or 10 gallons (38 L).
Provide large, open swimming areas and
a cover of floating plants.
The tank should have dark gravel and be well-planted.
These fish prefer peat filtration.
Water chemistry: pH 5-7.2 (6.5), dH 0-12 (3), 73-84°F (23-29°C).
Social behavior: A peaceful, schooling fish that can be combined with other, non-active fishes of lower
swimming levels.
Suggested companions: Tetras, Corydoras,
Loricarids, Killifish,
Apistogramma, Discus.
FOOD: Live; insects,
Daphnia, mosquito larvae,
Artemia,
Drosophila, bloodworms; flakes; freeze-dried
SEX: Males are slimmer and more colorful.
Breeding techniques: Use a small tank with a pH of 6.0, a hardness of 2 dH, and a warmer water temperature
of 86°F (30°C).
After an active courtship, spawning takes place on the undersides of leaves.
The
eggs are laid in groups of four and sink to the bottom.
The parents immediately attempt to eat the eggs after they are laid,
so use a pipette to suck the eggs out of the parents reach.
The young hatch in 24-30 hours and are free-swimming
about 5 days later.
Start feeding with roftiers, Brine Shrimp nauplii, and powder foods.
Breeding potential: 6. Breeding is slightly more difficult than
N. beckfordi, although it is not all that
difficult.
Remarks: This fish occasionally swims in an oblique position.
Difficulty of care: 4.
A hardy fish that can be kept in a community tank with other non-aggressive fish.
This
fish's diet needs to be regularly supplemented with live foods.
Recent articles about fish
Overfishing may hurt Amazon forest trees
(2/5/2008) Overfishing is reducing the effectiveness of seed dispersal by fish in the Brazilian Pantanal, reports Nature. The research suggests that fishing practices can affect forest health.
Scientists find fish that literally lives in trees
(10/17/2007) Scientists have found a fish that literally lives in trees, according to research published in The American Naturalist and highlighted in New Scientist Magazine.
Piranhas originated when Amazon was flooded by seawater
(12/4/2007) South America's piranha family of fish -- notorious as eaters of flesh -- can be traced back to a single ancestor which dispersed when the Amazon was flooded by seawater some five million years ago, report researchers from the Institut de Recherche Pour le Developpement (IRD). Today piranhas are exclusively freshwater fish found from the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela to the Parana in Argentina.
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