TankBud

Chestnut headstander

Pseudanos winterbottomi

Also known as Winterbottom's headstander

FreshwaterFish

Chestnut headstander (Pseudanos winterbottomi)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–81°F
22–27°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
5.9 in
15 cm
Minimum tank
53 gal
200 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Shoaling
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Anostomidae
Origin
Upper Orinoco and Casiquiare drainages, Venezuela

Overview

The chestnut headstander is a peaceful shoaling fish that holds a head-down posture in the middle and lower water. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

The chestnut headstander went unnamed by science until 2005. Part of the reason is its plain brown coloring, which is easy to overlook beside the boldly striped and spotted headstanders in the same rivers.

Caring for the chestnut headstander

Plan on 53 gal (200 L) or more for a group of chestnut headstanders, and keep a tight lid on the tank. A dim blackwater setup suits them, with soft sand, generous driftwood, leaf litter and plants for cover. Leave open wood and rock surfaces, since they graze biofilm and aufwuchs from them.

Give them soft water on the acidic to neutral side, at 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.5. Add a gentle current and keep the water well oxygenated and stable. Feed sinking pellets, algae wafers and small frozen foods, with some vegetable matter.

Chestnut headstanders are peaceful but socially demanding. Keepers report that groups of fewer than about ten start squabbling among themselves, so aim for a shoal of eight to ten or more. Choose calm tank mates, and treat boisterous or fin-nipping species with caution. Breeding in the aquarium is not recorded.

Good to know

The chestnut headstander is a toothed headstander in the family Anostomidae, also called Winterbottom's headstander. It takes on its warm chestnut color under tannin-stained water, and it looks plainer than the graphic patterns of some relatives. It is one of the more recent additions to the genus Pseudanos.

In the wild

The chestnut headstander lives in the soft, warm, tea-colored waters of the upper Orinoco and Casiquiare in Venezuela. It stays among submerged wood and roots.

Common questions

What size tank does a chestnut headstander need?

A chestnut headstander needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a chestnut headstander need?

A chestnut headstander is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.5.

What does a chestnut headstander eat?

A chestnut headstander eats sinking pellets, algae wafers and small frozen foods, with some vegetable matter. It also grazes biofilm and aufwuchs from wood and rock.

How big does a chestnut headstander get?

An adult chestnut headstander reaches about 5.9 in (15 cm).

Does a chestnut headstander need a group?

Yes. A chestnut headstander is a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

Related species