Striped Headstander
Anostomus anostomus
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 20 cm
- Minimum tank
- 108 litres
- Temperature
- 20–28 °C
Species profile
Spotted Headstander
Chilodus punctatus
Common names: Spotted Headstander
Recognized speciesHeadstanders and Leporinus
Adult size
Up to 8 cm
Up to 8 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- A mature, stable aquarium
Think carefully if
- Your tank is newly set up
- You keep shrimp you want to protect
A calm, spotted headstander, also called the Checkered Headstander, that lives in slow rivers and oxbow lakes. Keep alone or in a small group in 81 litres or more.
Appearance and Identification
A calm, spotted headstander, also called the Checkered Headstander, that lives in slow rivers and oxbow lakes. It grows to about 8 cm and is one of the more peaceful fish in this group.
Check the scientific name when buying, as common names vary between sellers and countries.
Usually hard to sex, although females are often rounder.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 160–240 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 75–125 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 81 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 90 cm
- Minimum group size
- 1
- Recommended group size
- 2
- Activity level
- Active
- Flow preference
- Low
- Planting preference
- Lightly planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Moderate
A long tank with a tight lid is best, because these fish jump. Use tough plants or wood, as soft plants are often eaten.
Behaviour and Tankmates
An active fish that often swims nose-down as it picks at surfaces for food.
Often does best in a group, which spreads out aggression between individuals.
Can be quarrelsome with its own kind and similar-looking fish.
Keep with robust fish of a similar size. It may nip long fins. It is likely to eat shrimp. Choose its tankmates with care.
Water Parameters
Fairly tolerant of different water, if it is clean and stable.
Parameter caveat
Add this fish only to a mature, fully cycled tank, and keep up regular water changes.
Feeding
- Diet types
- Herbivore, Omnivore
- Feeding frequency
- Daily
- Preferred foods
- Spirulina or algae wafersShould make up much of the diet.
- Blanched vegetablesCourgette, cucumber and peas work well. Remove leftovers within a day.
- Small frozen foodsAn occasional addition for protein.
Takes plant matter as well as small foods. Include plenty of vegetable food.
Feed small amounts, and remove anything left after a few minutes.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Egg Scatterer
- Breeding difficulty
- Moderate
- Parental care
- None
- Baby foods
- InfusoriaNeeded for the first days, because most fry are very small.
- Newly hatched brine shrimpIntroduce as soon as the fry can take it.
An egg scatterer with no parental care. Adults eat eggs and fry, so use a separate tank with fine plants, moss or mesh on the bottom, and remove the adults after spawning. The fry need very small foods at first.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, South America, Suriname, Venezuela
- Natural habitat
- Floodplain, Lake, River
- Audience level
- Intermediate
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Chilodus
- Family
- Chilodontidae
- Species group
- Fish, Headstanders and Leporinus
Have you kept this species?
You can write a note about what worked for you, or send a photograph. We check everything before it appears here.
Share a note or photo
Threespot Headstander
Pseudanos trimaculatus
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 12.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 85 litres
- Temperature
- 23–27 °C
Threespot Leporinus
Leporinus friderici
- Care level
- Specialist
- Adult size
- 40 cm
- Minimum tank
- 1944 litres
- Temperature
- 20–28 °C
Black Banded Leporinus
Leporinus fasciatus
- Care level
- Advanced
- Adult size
- 27 cm
- Minimum tank
- 756 litres
- Temperature
- 20–28 °C