Barred pencilfish
Nannostomus espei
Neptune’s rating:
60- AffordabilityModerate
- Aggression LevelVery Peaceful
- Breeding AggressionSlightly More Aggressive
- DifficultyModerate
- HardinessModerate
- Length3.8 - 5.5 cm
- Liters per Fish5 L
- Maintenance LevelModerate Maintenance
- pH6.0 - 7.5
- PopularityModerate
- RarityUncommon
- Minimum School Size6
- Tank HabitatSurface Dweller, Mid-tank Dweller, Bottom Dweller
- Temperature24.0 - 28.0 °C
- Territorial BehaviourMildly Territorial
Please note: These values are based on the average of various confirmed sources.
More about Barred pencilfish
The Barred pencilfish is a small, subtly colored freshwater fish primarily found in South America's slow-moving rivers and streams. It features a slender, elongated body with distinctive horizontal stripes or bars, usually in shades of brown, gold, and black, which blend with its natural habitat. In terms of appearance, its most notable characteristic is its pencil-like shape, hence the name "pencilfish." Although not as famous or widely kept as neon tetras or guppies, the Barred pencilfish does have a niche following in the aquarium hobby due to its peaceful nature and unique appearance, making it a favored choice among enthusiasts who prefer a more natural-looking or biotope-specific setup.