Hockeystick pencilfish
Nannostomus eques
Also known as Brown Tailed Pencilfish, Brown tail pencilfish
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–82°F
- 22–28°C
- pH
- 5.0–7.0
- Adult size
- 1.4 in
- 3.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 15 gal
- 55 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Shoaling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Lebiasinidae
- Origin
- Brazil, Peru, Colombia
Overview
Keep at least six in a tank of about 55 liters. A group settles faster and shows better color. They are peaceful and tend to hang near the top, swimming nose-up. Feed small foods like fine flake, micro-pellets, and small live or frozen items like daphnia and baby brine shrimp. A quiet, well-planted tank with calm tankmates suits them, and their small mouths mean they can't take big or boisterous neighbors.
In the wild
Hockeystick pencilfish come from quiet Amazon tributaries and streams in Brazil, Peru, and Colombia, in soft acidic water darkened by tannins. These spots have sandy or muddy bottoms, dense plants, and low light. Recreate that with a planted, shaded tank, gentle flow, and soft water with a pH from 5 to 7. Some leaf litter or botanicals to stain the water helps them settle in.
Good to know
Nannostomus eques belongs to the family Lebiasinidae and stays small, around 3.5 cm. The common name comes from its habit of holding its body at an upward angle, like a hockey stick stood on end. It is an egg layer that scatters eggs among plants with no parental care. Wild populations are not considered threatened, though habitat loss is a background concern.
Did you know
That nose-up, head-high swimming posture isn't a sign something's wrong. It is just how the fish naturally holds itself, and it is the reason for the hockeystick name.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Hockeystick pencilfish is a peaceful, shoaling species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Zebra pleco
Hypancistrus zebra
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)
Clown killifish
Epiplatys annulatus
Freshwater1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Green lace shrimp
Atyoida pilipes
Freshwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Volcano rasbora
Rasbora vulcanus
Freshwater1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)73–79°F (23–26°C)
Amazon sail-fin dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma pertensis
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Scherer's hatchetfish
Carnegiella schereri
Freshwater1 in (2.6 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Hockeystick pencilfish need?
A Hockeystick pencilfish needs at least 15 gal (55 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Hockeystick pencilfish need?
A Hockeystick pencilfish is comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 5.0–7.0.
How big does a Hockeystick pencilfish get?
An adult Hockeystick pencilfish reaches about 1.4 in (3.5 cm).
Does a Hockeystick pencilfish need a group?
Yes. A Hockeystick pencilfish is a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
1.4 in (3.5 cm)12 gal (45 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Twostripe pencilfish
Nannostomus digrammus
1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 12 gal (45 L)
1.3 in (3.3 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Three-lined pencilfish
Nannostomus trifasciatus
1.3 in (3.3 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)
1.6 in (4 cm)14 gal (54 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Elegant pencilfish
Nannostomus limatus
1.6 in (4 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)
1.6 in (4 cm)17 gal (65 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)One-lined pencilfish
Nannostomus unifasciatus
1.6 in (4 cm) · 17 gal (65 L)
1.6 in (4 cm)14 gal (54 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Shining pencilfish
Nannostomus nitidus
1.6 in (4 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)
1.2 in (3 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Barred pencilfish
Nannostomus espei
1.2 in (3 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)