Spotted headstander
Chilodus punctatus
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 68–82°F
- 20–28°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 3.1 in
- 8 cm
- Minimum tank
- 22 gal
- 85 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Shoaling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Chilodontidae
- Origin
- South America
Overview
The spotted headstander is a peaceful, shoaling fish for a dim, planted community tank. It is a fair pick for a keeper with some experience.
Caring for the spotted headstander
Keep spotted headstanders in a group of five or more, in a tank of 22 gal (85 L) or larger. A dim, well-planted tank with driftwood and leaf litter makes them feel at home. They can be shy without enough cover.
Give them soft, slightly acidic, warm water at 68 to 82°F (20 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. They are omnivores, eating plant matter and small invertebrates in the wild.
During the day they graze biofilm and algae off surfaces. Feed a mostly plant-based diet of flakes and vegetable foods, with occasional brine shrimp or bloodworms for protein.
Spotted headstanders are peaceful, social fish that swim in the middle of the tank and suit a community. There is no reliable record of them breeding at home.
Good to know
Chilodus punctatus is the type species of the small family Chilodontidae, the headstanders. It is easy to spot from its head-down posture and the rows of dark spots along its body. Wild numbers are considered stable.
In the wild
The spotted headstander lives in slow streams and tributaries of the Amazon and Orinoco basins in South America. These streams are soft and slightly acidic, shady and densely planted, with submerged roots and decaying leaves.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The spotted headstander 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.
Neocaridina shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 5 gal (19 L)59–84°F (15–29°C)
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
FreshwaterBrackish2.4 in (6 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Neon tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Freshwater1.5 in (3.8 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)70–77°F (21–25°C)
Apple snail
Pomacea canaliculata
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 21 gal (80 L)64–81°F (18–27°C)
Black-lined loach
Ambastaia nigrolineata
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Siamese flying barb
Laubuka siamensis
Freshwater2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a spotted headstander need?
A spotted headstander needs at least 22 gal (85 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a spotted headstander need?
A spotted headstander is comfortable at 68–82°F (20–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
What does a spotted headstander eat?
A spotted headstander eats a mostly plant-based diet of flakes and vegetable foods, with occasional brine shrimp or bloodworms for protein. It also grazes biofilm and algae off surfaces.
How big does a spotted headstander get?
An adult spotted headstander reaches about 3.1 in (8 cm).
Does a spotted headstander need a group?
Yes. A spotted headstander is a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
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