Harrison's pencilfish

Nannostomus harrisoni

Family : Characidae

FishFreshwaterPencilfish

Small elongated fish with a horizontal black line and a red spot on the anal fin. Endemic to Guyana.

Popularity
Community fish
classic in freshwater aquarium
Availability
Common in shops
Shop availability
IUCN Status
LC
Least Concern
Biotope
South America
Hors bassin amazonien : Paraná, Orénoque, Andes.

Description

Nannostomus harrisoni reaches up to 4 cm. Its body is elongated with an upward mouth. It has a thick horizontal black line on the flank, and a bright red spot on the anal fin. The caudal fin is hyaline with red reflections. It is a peaceful, schooling surface-dwelling fish. It is less common in the aquarium trade than other Nannostomus. It prefers soft, acidic water. Its behavior is similar to other pencilfish.

Habitat

Region :

Blackwater streams and small rivers, vegetated areas

Distribution :

Recommended parameters

Temperature2328 °C
pH5.57
GH210 °dGH
KH15 °dKH
NO₃
≤ 20 mg/L
PO₄
≤ 0.5 mg/L

Care

Difficulty
2/5
Diet
Carnivore
Min. tank
40 L
Min. group
6
Adult size
4 cm
Lifespan
4 years
Temperament
Peaceful
Propagation
Egg-scatterer

Care notes

Aquarium of at least 40 liters, well planted with shaded areas. Soft and acidic water (pH 5.5-7.0, GH 2-10) at 23-28°C. Diet: small insects, brine shrimp, daphnia, and fine dry food. Compatible with other small peaceful fish. Keep in groups of at least 6. Avoid aggressive tankmates. Regular water changes. Sensitive to water quality.

Similar species

Espèces proches, même habitat ou même maintenance

References