TankBud

Striped headstander

Anostomus anostomus

FreshwaterFish

Striped headstander (Anostomus anostomus)
Brian Gratwicke · CC BY 2.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–82°F
20–28°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
7.5 in
19 cm
Minimum tank
70 gal
265 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Shoaling
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Anostomidae
Origin
Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, Guyana

Overview

It is mostly peaceful but can squabble, so keep it either single or in a group of five or more to spread out the aggression, never as a pair. It sits in the middle of the tank and needs at least 265 liters. Water should run soft to neutral, pH 6 to 7.5, at 20 to 28 C. It grazes constantly, so feed plenty of vegetable matter like spirulina, blanched zucchini, and spinach, with a little protein now and then. Tankmates should be similar-sized and not slow or timid.

In the wild

The striped headstander lives in clear, fast-flowing rivers and streams across the Amazon and Orinoco systems, from Peru and Brazil to Venezuela and Guyana. It sticks close to rocks and submerged wood, grazing surfaces for food. To match that, give it a roomy tank with good flow, smooth rocks, driftwood, and some current from the filter. Plants help too, but pick tough ones it won't shred.

Good to know

This fish belongs to the family Anostomidae, the headstanders, named for the head-down angle they hold in the water. Adults can reach around 19 cm. Its body carries bold horizontal stripes that break up its outline against rocks and roots. There are no reliable records of it breeding in home aquariums.

Did you know

It feeds in the head-down posture that gives the group its name, angling nose-first to pick algae and tiny invertebrates off rocks and wood that fish swimming level can't easily reach. That feeding angle isn't a quirk, it's how the fish naturally orients most of the day.

Common questions

What size tank does a Striped headstander need?

A Striped headstander needs at least 70 gal (265 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Striped headstander need?

A Striped headstander is comfortable at 68–82°F (20–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

How big does a Striped headstander get?

An adult Striped headstander reaches about 7.5 in (19 cm).

Does a Striped headstander need a group?

Yes. A Striped headstander is a shoaling species; keep at least 6 together.

Related species