Hockeystick Pencilfish (Nannostomus Eques)
The Hockeystick Pencilfish, also known as Diagonal Pencilfish, is an elegant and captivating freshwater species known for its slender body and unique oblique swimming posture, resembling a hockeystick. Their coloration consists of a muted golden hue with a bold horizontal black stripe running the length of their body, adding to their visual appeal.
Hockeystick Pencilfish are peaceful fish that reach an adult size of up to 2.2 inches. They are best kept in schools of 8-10 or more to encourage natural behavior and create a comfortable environment. Compatible tank mates include other small, peaceful fish like tetras, rasboras, and small catfish. Unlike their relatives, rival males rarely spar or do each other harm in any way.
An omnivorous species, Hockeystick Pencilfish enjoy a varied diet consisting of small live or frozen foods, such as brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworms, and high-quality flake foods and micro pellets.
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.
A minimum aquarium size of 20 gallons is suggested, with an ideal 30 gallons or larger community aquarium size. Maintain water conditions with a pH of 6.0-7.5, hardness of 5-12 dGH, and a temperature range of 75-82°F (24-28°C).
A well-fitting tank cover is also necessary, as Hockeystick Pencilfish may jump when startled.
Introduce these fish into a mature, stable aquarium environment to ensure their health and well-being.
To learn more about this fish, be sure to check out the Additional Information tab.
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