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This family contains some of the most readily recognized (though not
universally loved) freshwater aquarium fishes; the larger Pencilfishes and
Headstanders. They bear characteristically small, apical to upturned mouths that
are small and non-protractile. Most have elongated bodies with a short anal and
dorsal fins. Pencilfishes often orient their bodies at oblique angles... the
Headstanders go over even further, often angled at more than forty five degrees,
some, greater than 90 at times.
A few of these species make good "medium" community
additions... but many are suitable only for the very roughest company... Way too
many fishes fins, bodies and eyes will be damaged today by being mis-matched
with some anostomids.
Two Subfamilies: the subfamily Anostominae (ten genera, about 105
species) includes the larger Pencilfishes and most of the Headstanders. The
Chilodontinae, with two genera, five species, are occasionally seen as the
Headstander genus Chilodus.
| Abramites hypselonotus (Gunther 1868), the Marbled
Headstander. South America; Rio Orinoco, Rio Amazonas, Rio Paraquay and Rio
Parana basins. To nearly six inches in length. Conds.: pH 6-7.5, dH to 18,
temp. 23-27 C. |
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| Anostomus anostomus (Linnaeus 1758), the Striped
Headstander. South America; Amazon, Orinoco, Guyana. To a bit over six
inches in length. Cond.s: pH 6-8, dH 5-12, temp. 22-28 C. In the wild eats
worms, crustaceans, insects and plant material. Can be a mean fish nipping
tankmate to peaceful tankmates. |
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| Chilodus punctatus Muller & Troschel 1844, the
Spotted Headstander. South America; Amazon and Guyana. To four inches in
length. Cond.s: pH 6-7, dH to 10, temp. 24-28 C. One of the more mellow,
medium community tank Headstander species. |
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| Leporinus fasciatus (Bloch 1794), the Banded
Leporinus. South America; Oceania (introduced elsewhere). To one foot in
length. Cond.s: pH 5.5-7.5, dH to 20, temp. 22-26 C. A beautiful fish
amongst many in the Pencilfish group of characoids, but one that can/does
become an unholy terror in the presence of unaware or slow fish tankmates. |
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| Leporinus striatus Kner 1858, the Striated
Pencilfish. South America; most eastern countries. To ten inches in length.
Cond.s temp. 22-26 C. Mean when large and toward conspecifics. |
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Bibliography/Further Reading:
ADI Staff. Undated. Headstanders for the home aquarium. ADI #54.
Anon. 1975. Cigar-shaped Characins. ADI 3:1, 75.
Donovan, Paul. 1997. The family Anostomidae. TFH 8/97.
Fehrs, Jens Peter. 1976. Community tank for Headstanders. ADI 4:1, 76.
Geisler, Rolf. 1959. Spawning Chilodus punctatus. TFH 8/59.
Walker, Braz. 1969. A real oldtimer (Anostomus anostomus). The
Aquarium 6/69.
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