Hockeystick Pencilfish

Hockeystick Pencilfish key facts

Care level

Intermediate

Lifespan

3-5 years

Size

About 3.5-5cm

Temperature

22〜28℃

Diet

Fine dried foods, live and frozen brine shrimp, Daphnia

Tank

Seriously Fish suggests a base of at least 60 by 30cm, about 54 litres at 30cm depth, and FishBase recommends groups of five or more in a tank of 60cm or longer. In a planted tank with a dark substrate, patches of floating vegetation give it somewhere to gather, bodies angled to the surface. Add driftwood branches and dried leaf litter, and filter gently; an air-driven sponge is usually enough.

Water Temperature & Quality

Seriously Fish gives 22-28C, pH 4.5-7.5 and 1-10 dGH; FishBase points to the acidic side, pH 5.0-6.0 with 5-12 dH at 23-28C. It is a blackwater fish, so hold it in soft, slightly acidic water that does not swing.

Tank Mates

Peaceful and small-mouthed, so keep it away from fish that will out-compete it for food or that are simply too large; small South American characins and dwarf cichlids suit it. It settles in a group and gathers beneath floating plants.

Diet & Feeding

FishBase records worms, crustaceans and insects in the wild. In the aquarium it takes dried food of a suitable size, but do not rely on that alone: give daily meals of small live or frozen fare such as brine shrimp and Daphnia.

Breeding & Spawning

FishBase records only that it is oviparous, and no confirmed account of a breeding procedure for this species could be found, so none is given. The microbes that develop as leaf litter decays serve as a secondary food for fry, and the tannins the leaves release are thought beneficial too.

Health & Notes

FishBase lists it as IUCN Least Concern, not on the CITES appendices and harmless to people. Populations of the upper and of the middle and lower rio Negro are separate evolutionary units that do not hybridise even where they meet, so the species as recognised may be a complex of lineages. Better, then, not to mix fish of different origins.

About Hockeystick Pencilfish

Hockeystick Pencilfish is a small characin known for its head-up swimming posture and a dark body stripe extending into the tail. Adults reach about 3.5-5cm and suit intermediate keepers.

7 things to know before welcoming a Hockeystick Pencilfish

1. 1A Head-Up Swimming Style

   Swimming at a steep, head-up angle is this fish's defining trait. It tends to hold this posture even during normal activity, offering a very different look from typical horizontally swimming tropical fish.

2. 2Calm but Somewhat Shy

   It is calm and gentle by nature, and tends to hide when kept with more assertive fish. Pairing it with similarly sized, peaceful tankmates works best.

3. 3Keep in a Small Group

   Keeping several individuals together tends to bring out more natural, settled behavior than keeping just one or two. In small numbers, it may hide more often.

4. 4Sensitive to Water Changes

   It can be sensitive to sudden shifts in water parameters or pH, so small, frequent water changes are preferable to large ones. Take time to acclimate it slowly when introducing it to a new tank.

5. 5Stays Small at Maturity

   Adults stay compact at roughly 3.5 to 5cm, making the species manageable without an oversized tank. Still, tankmate size should be chosen with care.

6. 6Provide Places to Hide

   Because it likes to retreat into cover, a layout with plenty of plants or driftwood helps it settle in comfortably. A wide-open layout alone can leave it more prone to stress.

7. 7Best Suited to Intermediate Keepers

   This species is generally considered suitable for intermediate keepers, requiring some experience with water quality management and tankmate selection. First-time tropical fish keepers may want to build up basic water management skills before taking one on.

Frequently asked questions about Hockeystick Pencilfish

Q.Can it live with other fish?

A.Being calm and peaceable, it generally does well with similarly sized, gentle tankmates. It tends to hide when housed with more assertive or larger fish, so choose companions carefully.

Q.How does it swim in the tank?

A.It typically swims at a steep, head-up angle rather than horizontally, giving it a very different look from most tropical fish. This posture is a rare trait shared with only one other close relative.

Q.Is it suitable for beginners?

A.It is generally rated as suitable for intermediate keepers, requiring some care around water stability and tankmate choice. It's best approached once you have some tropical fishkeeping experience.

Q.How big does it grow?

A.Adults stay compact, reaching only about 3.5 to 5cm in total length. This makes them easy to keep in both small and medium-sized tanks.

Q.What should I feed it?

A.It readily accepts small pellet or flake foods as well as frozen or live brine shrimp. Because its mouth is small, choose food sized appropriately for the fish.

Useful tools for Hockeystick Pencilfish care

Learn more about Hockeystick Pencilfish in the encyclopedia

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