Eques Pencilfish

Nannostomus eques, the Hockeystick or Tube-mouthed Pencilfish, is one of the most immediately recognisable pencilfish species, habitually swimming with its head pointing upward at roughly a 45-degree angle. This distinctive posture, combined with a bold dark oblique stripe running from the snout through the eye to the lower caudal lobe, makes it unmistakable. The fins carry red and white accents that intensify in soft acidic water.

Unlike most pencilfish, N. eques tends to hover motionless near surface vegetation or overhanging branches, darting quickly to snatch food items from the water surface. It is entirely peaceful and works well in groups with other soft-water Amazonian species that won't outcompete it for food.

This species benefits particularly from live or frozen surface-dwelling food items — wingless fruit flies, floating pellets, and baby brine shrimp near the surface are all taken readily. Good surface cover from floating plants helps it feel secure.

Water: 23–28°C, pH 5.0–7.0, soft (GH 1–10, KH 0–5); blackwater conditions ideal. Tank: 60 L minimum; dense surface planting, driftwood, leaf litter; very gentle flow. Feeding: Floating micro-pellets, crushed flake, baby brine shrimp, micro-worms, wingless fruit flies. Breeding: Rarely bred in captivity; egg-scatterer; very soft acidic water required for conditioning. Compatibility: Peaceful; excellent with small nano tetras, pencilfish, and dwarf shrimp; avoid boisterous species.