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These are South American fishes distinguished from the Characidae by the lack of teeth in the lower jaw. In America, this group is known as Lebiasinidae.

Half-lined Hemiodus; Silver Hemiodus; Flying Swallow

Hemiodopsis (formerly Hemiodus) semitaeniatus 200 mm 71 in. South America : various waters. A very streamlined, silver fish. A dark spot is situated on the flank between the dorsal and adipose fins. After a gap, a dark line runs into the caudal fin, following a downward direction midway through the lower lobe. A fast swimmer, and loves a shoaling existence. Very attractive when young but grows rapidly. Temperature: 24°C (75°F), or slightly lower. Diet: all foods. Breeding: not yet bred in the aquarium.

Pencil Fishes

During recent years, the genus Nannostomus has been the subject of some re-classification with, first the Poecilolnzycon division being created and, then the genus Nannolnzycon being suggested for all fishes in this group. All Pencilfishes have small mouths, but not all have adipose fins; again, some, hut not all, swim at an oblique angle. Males constantly `threaten’ each other with a fine display of fin stretching, and they similarly perform in front of the females. The Pencilfishes have a family characteristic of nocturnal coloration, and the aquarist may be surprised to see them looking different early in the morning; descriptions in the text refer to normal daylight colours.

Golden Pencilfish; One-lined Pencilfishes

Nannostomus beckfordi 50 mm 2 in. South America : jungle streams. Several attempts have been made to sub-divide this species further on a colour-pattern basis. The golden-bodied form with a single, dark horizontal line, red anal fin and red lower caudal fin has been known as N. beckfordi annmalus. The form with a red band alongside the dark band, and red at the base of the caudal fin, may be known as N. beckfordi aripirangensis. There is also N. beckfordi beckfordi, the Golden Pencilfish, measuring 65 mm (21 in.) long. Males often spar with each other. Temperature: 26°C C (79°F). Diet: all suitably proportioned foods. Breeding: adults are egg eaters. Sometimes water conditions do not favour development of the eggs.

Dwarf Pencilfish

Nannostomus marginatus 38 mm 11 in. South America : jungle streams. A shorter, stockier fish than other species. The upper half of the body is gold, the lower half silver. A broad dark band, edged above with red, runs from the snout to the caudal fin. Another two black lines parallel this band on either side. The dorsal and anal fins are red, edged in black; the ventral fins are white with a red patch. Temperature: 26^°C (79^°F). Diet: all foods. Breeding:: adults are egg eaters.

Three-lined Pencilfish

Nanno‑stomus trifasciatus 50mm 2 in. South America : jungle streams. A ’stretched’ version of the Dwarf Pencilfish. Other differences occur in the colour pattern of the fins : the base of the caudal fin has two red patches separated by an over-run of the body colour. The dorsal, anal and ventral fins are clear with red patches. Temperature: 26^°C (79^°F). Diet: all foods. Breeding: possible, but more difficult than other Pencilfishes, because natural waters are very high in humus content.

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This entry was posted on Saturday, November 1st, 2008 at 12:01 am and is filed under Fish, Tropical Fish, aquarium. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.