Freshwater needlefish

Xenentodon cancila

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 66–86°F (19–30°C)
pH: 6.5–7.5
Adult size: 13.8 in (35 cm)
Minimum tank: 85 gal (320 L)
Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Difficult
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Very rare
Origin: South Asia, Thailand
Family: Belonidae

Overview

The freshwater needlefish is a slim, fast predator that holds in open mid to upper water, waiting to ambush prey. It is happiest in a small group, where it is calmer than kept alone, but it will snap up any fish small enough to fit in its long jaws, so tankmates must be similar in size or larger. Feed live and frozen foods such as river shrimp, earthworms, and small fish, weaning it onto frozen where possible. It is nervous and jumps hard, so a tight lid and open swimming space are important. Give a group a long tank of at least 320 liters.

In the wild

Xenentodon cancila is widespread across South and Southeast Asia, from Pakistan and India through to Thailand, in rivers, canals, lakes, and floodplains, sometimes reaching slightly brackish estuaries. It favors calm, open surface water near the bank. Recreate this with a long tank, open swimming room at the top, and some floating or marginal plants for security. It tolerates a wide temperature span from about 19 to 30 degrees Celsius, with a near-neutral pH of 6.5 to 7.5.

Good to know

The freshwater needlefish belongs to Belonidae, the needlefish family, and reaches about 35 centimeters. Its body is drawn out into a long, thin form with narrow, beak-like jaws lined with fine teeth, built for seizing fast prey near the surface. Despite the fearsome jaws, studies of wild fish suggest much of its natural diet is small crustaceans. It lays relatively large eggs that anchor to plants by fine threads, though aquarium spawning is seldom recorded.

Did you know

A freshwater needlefish is built like a living spear, with a slender body and long, tooth-lined beak that it uses to ambush prey near the surface with a sudden sideways snap of the head.