All fish / Lebiasinidae

Barred Pencilfish

Nannostomus espei

Also known as espe's pencilfish, espei pencilfish, espes pencilfish, barred pencil fish, comma pencilfish, ナノストムス・エスペイ, 斑马铅笔鱼, 埃氏铅笔鱼

A slim little pencilfish with a golden brown body marked by four or five dark comma-shaped blotches along the side and touches of red on the fins. It is kept for its unusual pattern and calm schooling behaviour in planted, softly lit nano and community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

3 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

5 to 7

Smallest tank

40 litres

Keep as

Group of 8 or more

Diet

Carnivore: small live and frozen foods such as daphnia, cyclops, brine shrimp and grindal worms, plus fine flake

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Mazaruni River basin, Guyana; also reported from the upper Orinoco in Venezuela

Breeding

It scatters eggs among fine-leaved plants and the parents will eat them, so eggs should be removed or a spawning mop used. Breeding is possible in soft, acidic water but fry are tiny and need infusoria at first, making it moderately difficult.

Good to know

Very small and timid, so avoid boisterous or large tankmates and keep a tight lid as pencilfish can jump. Wild-caught fish may arrive thin and need careful feeding with small live foods.