MAGAZINE

FISH Factfile

l Scientific name:
Nannostomus mortenthaleri
l Size: 3-4cm/ 1.2-1.6in
Peru
fully grown
l Origin: Peru, specifically the
Nanay basin as well as the Rio
Tigre system
l Habitat: Marginal backwaters,
with slow flow and dense
vegetation (both riparian and floating), during wet
season, theyll also inhabit flooded forest.
l Aquarium: Densely planted with plenty of floating
plants, dark substrates, and low water flow. The addition
of leaf litter will make them brighter.
l Water conditions: Soft and acidic; 4.0-6.8pH, hardness
below 7H
l Feeding: Nano means small, and stomus means
mouth, and youll need tiny food to suit their dinky
craws. Flake is eaten, but go heavy on live and frozen
Cyclops and Daphnia, and use a little Calanus to keep
the red markings vibrant. Leaf litter will grow a delicious
bounty of miniscule organisms for them to feed on, too.
l Notes: At about 20 for a 2cm specimen, this could be
the priciest fish-per-millimetre youll ever buy, but the
colours make them worth it. Add a small mirror to the
tank, and theyll flare up to it and intensify its markings.
Try to keep a shoal of six or more, and keep away from
any intimidating fish. In the wild, pencils are prey fish
and they know it, so theyre exceptionally nervous.

Coral red pencilfish