Coral Red Pencilfish
Coral Red Pencilfish
Currently unavailable
We do not take backorders on live fish, invertebrates or plants. Livestock arrives on the shipping schedule our suppliers and the weather allow, so we will not promise a date we cannot keep.
What is in the tanks changes from week to week. Ask us and we will tell you what is in and what is coming, or check back shortly. Visit us or get in touch.
Free local pickup at our Lethbridge store. Livestock guarantee
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The coral red pencilfish (Nannostomus mortenthaleri) comes from the Rio Nanay in Peru and is one of the most intensely coloured small fish available. Males are a deep coral red broken by black lateral stripes, with red and black in the fins; females are slimmer and considerably duller. The colour is conditional rather than automatic — in hard water under bright light these fish look ordinary, and that is where most disappointment with the species comes from.
Aquarium care
- Small, around 3 cm.
- Keep a group of eight or more with several males so display is spread through the group.
- Soft, acidic, tannin-stained water and subdued lighting are what bring out the red.
- Dark substrate, leaf litter and floating plants all help.
- Small mouth — feed micro pellets, crushed flake and small frozen foods.
- Needs a mature, stable aquarium rather than a new setup.
They suit a planted blackwater community with dwarf shrimp, pygmy corydoras, chili rasboras and other small quiet fish. Males spar constantly but rarely do harm in a proper group. Avoid fast feeders that will clear the food first.
Stock rotates with each shipment, and livestock is available for local pickup at our Lethbridge store. See the freshwater fish collection.
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