More info
Datasheet
| Minimum Tank Size | 60 litres / 15.85 US gallons |
| Maximum Size | 3.5cm / 1.38inches |
| Temperature | 21°C / 69.80°F - 28°C / 82.40°F |
| Hardness | 1.01dgH / 18ppm - 10.03dgH / 179ppm |
| pH | 4.0-6.5 |
Aquarium Setup
The Greenstripe Pencilfish should ideally be kept in a heavily-planted set-up, preferably with a dark substrate, as it prefers broken lines of sight and natural hiding spots. Floating plants, driftwood branches, and dried leaf litter are recommended additions to the aquarium as they help create a natural environment and reduce skittishness. The decomposition of leaf litter drives the establishment of microbe colonies, providing a secondary food source for fry. Gentle filtration with an air-powered sponge-style unit is typically sufficient, although some water movement is acceptable (see table for specific water conditions).
Behaviour
The Greenstripe Pencilfish is relatively peaceful and may not thrive with very boisterous or significantly larger tankmates. It is best kept with similarly-sized, peaceful characids, smaller callichthyid or loricariid catfish, and can serve as an ideal dither fish for dwarf cichlids. This species tends to inhabit the middle-to-upper regions of the tank and does not commonly prey on fry. Keeping them in larger groups of ideally 10 or more individuals helps disperse aggression and encourages bolder and more natural behavior.
Feeding and Diet
Being a micropredator in nature, the Greenstripe Pencilfish feeds on tiny invertebrates and zooplankton. In an aquarium setting, they will accept dried foods but should also be offered daily meals of small live and frozen fare such as Artemia nauplii, Moina, and grindal worms to meet their dietary needs adequately.
Reproduction & Dimorphism
Reproduction of the Greenstripe Pencilfish has been achieved in aquariums, with fry appearing in densely-planted, mature tanks. Controlled breeding is possible by conditioning adult groups in separate containers filled with fine-leaved plants. Adults can be removed after spawning, and fry require small-grade foods initially. Male Greenstripe Pencilfish are slimmer and more intensely-patterned than females, with slightly elongated and thickened branched rays in the anal fin.
Habitat and Distribution
The Greenstripe Pencilfish is likely to inhabit sluggish tributaries, small rivers, and swampy areas with dense aquatic vegetation or submerged woody structures in its native habitat. It has been recorded in Brazil and Colombia, primarily in the Negro and Orinoco river basins, with additional unconfirmed reports from Venezuela.