Nannostomus Espei (Barred Pencilfish) Cheat Sheet
Nannostomus Espei (Barred Pencilfish) is originated from the rivers of Guyana. You can best identify them by the 5 black stripes, vertically positioned on each flank. They are so hard to breed in captivity. That’s why the price tag on this fish can be more than what you might expect.
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| Scientific name | Nannostomus Espei |
| Common name | Barred Pencilfish |
| Origin | Guyana |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Temperament (to other fish) | Peaceful |
| Temperament (to own type) | Peaceful |
| Sexing (or gender identification) | Black stripes are more visible and brighter for male Nannostomus Espei (Barred Pencilfish) whereas females display pale stripes. |
| Swim area | Mid – Top level |
| Breeding | It’s so hard to breed in an aquarium setup. Very specific conditions should met for a successful batch. Adult fish should be removed from the breeding tank once the eggs are laid. Breeding should occur when the water temp is 77 °F, water hardness is less than 2 and the pH is 6. Eggs will hatch in 1 to 3 days. |
| Temperature | 72 °F – 79 °F |
| pH | 6.0 – 7.0 (6.0 when breeding) |
| Water hardness | 5.0 – 10.0 (Soft – Very Hard) |
| Maximum size in length | 1.5 inches |
| Minimum aquarium size | 10 gallon |
| Difficulty | 3 (Easy) |
| Additional comments | They are schooling fish and have to be kept in groups. |