Nannostomus

Nannostomus belong to the Lebiasinidae family. The name comes from the Latin Nannus meaning “small” and the Greek Stoma meaning “mouth”, referring to the tiny size of this group of fish. Adults rarely reach 3 cm in length.

They come from the wetlands of the rivers of South America. A typical biotope is a heavily overgrown reservoir with a large number of snags, the bottom of which is covered with a layer of fallen tree leaves. As a result of the decomposition of plant organic matter, water acquires a special chemical composition that will need to be reproduced in a home aquarium.

Due to their modest size, Nannostomus are only allowed to be kept with fish of comparable size. Intraspecific relationships are built on competition between males for the attention of females. Rivalry can be quite fierce, so hiding places are essential, such as areas with dense aquatic vegetation.

Maintaining stable water conditions within a rather narrow range of acceptable hydrochemical values, finding compatible species, and choosing the right décor items can be challenging for the beginner aquarist.