Anduze Pencilfish

Anduze Pencilfish (Nannostomus Anduzei)

The Anduze Pencilfish is a small, attractive freshwater fish that boasts an elongated body with striking horizontal stripes of gold and black. It's vibrant coloration and peaceful demeanor make it a popular choice for community aquariums.

At their adult size, Anduze Pencilfish only grows to less than an inch. They are very peaceful but do not make an ideal community fish due to their small size and rather timid nature. They are better suited for aquariums with other tiny, non-aggressive species, such as Green Neon Tetras, or on their own.

Anduze Pencilfish are outgoing extroverted fish with a shoaling nature, meaning they prefer to congregate in loose groups rather than moving in unison like schooling fish. During the day, it is common for male Anduze Pencilfish to engage in friendly competition, which can sometimes result in nipped fins within the group. However, this behavior typically doesn't extend to other tankmates. Keeping at least 10 or more Anduze Pencilfish together is recommended, as larger groups help disperse aggression and encourage the fish to exhibit bolder and more natural behaviors.

Their diet mainly consists of small invertebrates such as daphnia, brine shrimp, and microforms, as well as high-quality flake food and freeze-dried foods.

To create a comfortable habitat for Pencilfish, provide a well-planted aquarium with a dark substrate with subdued lighting to enhance their colors. Include hiding spots using driftwood, rocks, cavies, and plenty of live plants to mimic their natural environment. Pencilfish tends to swim in the middle and top regions of the tank; the addition of floating plants offers an additional sense of security and diffuse light. Pencilfish also requires a spacious aquarium, and their décor arranged to create plenty of broken lines-of-sight to reduce aggression between males.

These fish thrive in soft, slightly acidic water with a moderate water flow. Use a gentle filtration system; an air-powered sponge-style unit is generally adequate and performs regular water changes.

A minimum tank size of 20 gallons is recommended for a group or 30+ gallons in a community fish tank setting. Anduze Pencilfish prefer requires stable water conditions with a pH of 6.5-7.5, a hardness of 5-15 dGH, and a temperature range of 72-79°F (22-26°C).

A well-fitting tank cover is also necessary, as Anduze Pencilfish may jump when startled.
Introduce these fish into a mature, stable aquarium environment to ensure their health and well-being.