All fish / Anostomidae

Striped Headstander

Anostomus anostomus

Also known as striped anostomus, headstander, red-tailed headstander, anostomus, striped headstander fish, アノストムス・アノストムス, 条纹倒立鱼, 红尾倒立鱼

A slim, torpedo-like characin with bold black and golden-cream stripes running along the body and red at the base of the tail fin. It swims nose-down while it grazes rocks and wood, which is why it is called a headstander, and it is kept for its striking pattern and unusual behaviour.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

14 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

5.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Singly or in a group of 6 or more to spread aggression

Diet

Omnivore: algae and plant matter, sinking pellets, blanched vegetables, bloodworm and brine shrimp

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Amazon and Orinoco basins and the Guianas (Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana)

Breeding

It scatters eggs in the wild, often in seasonally flooded areas. Captive spawning is very rare and most fish sold are caught in the wild.

Good to know

Kept in twos or threes it often bullies its own kind, and it may nip the fins of slow or long-finned fish. It will eat soft plants and can jump, so a tight lid is needed.