All fish / Lebiasinidae

Limatus Pencilfish

Nannostomus limatus

Also known as limatus pencilfish, tail-spot pencilfish, nannostomus limatus, ペンシルフィッシュ, 铅笔鱼

A slim little pencilfish with a dark stripe along the body, a warm brownish back and red flashes in the fins of males. It is kept for its quiet, gentle behaviour and suits well planted, softly lit community tanks with other small, calm fish.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

3.5 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

5.5 to 7

Smallest tank

45 litres

Keep as

Group of 8 or more

Diet

Carnivore: small live and frozen foods such as daphnia, cyclops, brine shrimp and fine flakes

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Upper Amazon basin in Peru, Brazil and Colombia

Breeding

It scatters eggs among fine plants and gives no parental care, and adults will eat the eggs. Spawning is possible in soft, acidic water with dense plants, but fry are tiny and need infusoria at first.

Good to know

Has a small mouth and is timid, so avoid boisterous or large tankmates and keep the tank covered as pencilfish can jump. Often confused with other striped Nannostomus species in the trade.