Purple Pencilfish (Nannostomus Rubrocaudatus)
The Purple Pencilfish is a captivating and rare freshwater species admired for its slender, elongated body and remarkable purple hue. With a bright red caudal fin and iridescent scales, these fish add a touch of color and elegance to any aquarium.
At their adult size, Purple Pencilfish only grows to 1.5 inches and are more aggressive than the majority of relatives. They are fish with a shoaling nature, meaning they prefer congregating in loose groups rather than moving in unison like schooling fish. During the day, it is common for male Purple 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 Purple Pencilfish together is recommended, as larger groups help disperse aggression and encourage the fish to exhibit bolder and more natural behaviors.
As omnivores, Purple Pencilfish enjoy a diet that includes live or frozen foods like 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.
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 aquarium size of 10 gallons is recommended, while an ideal community aquarium size would be 20 gallons or larger. Maintain water conditions with a pH of 5.5-7.5, hardness of 3-12 dGH, and a temperature range of 72-79°F (22-26°C).
A well-fitting tank cover is also necessary, as Purple 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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