From Aqua Guide, the free encyclopedia
Dwarf Pencilfish
Nannostomus marginatus
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C
- pH
- 4 – 7
- Min. tank size
- 41 L
- Lifespan
- 3-5 years
- Diet
- omnivore
- Care level
- moderate
| Scientific classification | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name: | Nannostomus marginatus |
| Family: | Lebiasinidae |
| Origin: | South America (northern South America, Guianas and Amazon fringes) |
| Care Characteristics | |
| Care Level: | moderate |
| Diet: | omnivore |
| Max Size: | 2.50 cm |
| Water Type: | freshwater |
| Temp Group: | tropical |
| Temperament: | peaceful |
| Min Group: | 10+ together |
| Varieties: | No cultivated strains — this is a wild-type nano fish and the trade sells it as caught or farm-bred to type. Some population variation exists across the range, and rio Negro males in particular may carry modified anal-fin rays that other populations lack. The genus is where the choice lies. Nannostomus contains a number of aquarium species, and several are more widely available than this one: N. beckfordi, the golden pencilfish, larger and hardier; N. mortenthaleri, the coral red pencilfish, the most spectacular of them; N. eques, the diptail pencilfish, which swims at a permanent 45-degree angle; N. trifasciatus, the three-lined pencilfish; and N. espei, the barred pencilfish. All share the small mouth, the soft-water preference and the requirement for a decent group. Among them this species is the smallest commonly kept, which makes it the natural choice for a genuinely small planted tank. |
| Lifespan: | 3-5 years |
Quick Tips
- Bioload:Very low
- Min Tank:41 L
- Substrate:Dark sand; densely planted with botanicals/tannins
- Plant Safe:Plant-safe
- Filtration:Low (gentle flow)
Dwarf Pencilfish (Nannostomus marginatus) is a species of fish in the family Lebiasinidae. It is native to South America (northern South America, Guianas and Amazon fringes). The dwarf pencilfish is 25 mm long and spends its day hanging nose-up in the mid-water among fine planting, marked with three bold horizontal stripes and red flashes in the fins. It is one of the true nano fish — a group of ten fits comfortably in a 45 × 30 cm tank of around 41 litres — and it is peaceful to the point of timidity. It also does something genuinely strange. At night the horizontal stripes disappear and are replaced by a cryptic, blotched pattern, and the fish takes on a completely different appearance. The change is automatic: it occurs on a diurnal rhythm even in blind specimens, so it is not a response to light at all. It makes an ideal dither fish for Apistogramma and other dwarf cichlids.
Compatibility
- Temperament
- peaceful
- Keep in
- Groups of 10+
- Swims
- middle
- Fin nipper
- No
- Delicate fins
- No
Species similar to Dwarf Pencilfish
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