All fish / Lebiasinidae

Black-banded pencilfish

Nannostomus nigrotaeniatus

Also known as blackband pencilfish, black banded pencilfish, nannostomus nigrotaeniatus pencilfish, ナンノストムス・ニグロタエニアトゥス, 黑带铅笔鱼

A slim little pencilfish with a bold dark band along the body, edged above with gold and with red patches on the fins of males. It suits a quiet, well planted soft-water tank and is kept for its calm habits and fine detail. Some authors treat it as a form of Nannostomus eques, and its name status has been debated.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

3.5 cm

Temperature

24 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 and brine shrimp, plus fine flakes

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Upper Amazon basin, Peru, Brazil and Colombia

Breeding

Pairs scatter a few eggs among fine-leaved plants and then eat them if given the chance. Breeding is possible in soft, acidic water with dense plants or a mesh, but yields are small.

Good to know

Shy and easily outcompeted, so keep it with small, peaceful tankmates. It is often confused with N. eques and N. unifasciatus in the trade.