Nannostomus sp. super red super red (pencil fish) new discoveries

Title photo: On 22.7.2022 my aquarist world changed! I acquired the first two new species of red pencilfish.

I believe that the discovery of these two new pencilfish species, as well as a number of other tetras, cichlids and other fish species, enabled the end of the war in the Ecuadorian-Peruvian border area. This led not only to an improvement in tourism in the region, but also to an increase in the number of aquarists - hunters. They are still amazed at how beautiful the fish live here. Some of them are already swimming in my aquariums.

There are two species, Nannostomus sp. super red Amaya and Nannostomus sp. super red Cenepa. The first is more red and especially the males have a red dorsal fin. The second species has less red, two black stripes run across the body on the back and along the ventral edge and the dorsal fin is translucent or slightly white. Initially there were many assumptions that these were color forms of already known pencilfish, especially N. rubrocaudatus. However, what is important are the distinctive black spots in the lower lobe of the caudal fin. It is also interesting how the females of each species differ slightly in coloration.

Both the Rio Cenepa and the Rio Amaya are located in the northern region of Peru, the blackwater river Cenepa flows through the border region of Peru and Ecuador and is about 185 km long. The Rio Amaya in Peru is also a blackwater river in the Rio Marañon basin.

What is necessary for good keeping and breeding of these two new species? Above all, quality water and food. In České Budějovice we have the advantage that our tap water is soft (important for keeping) and in our area we have many streams with an admixture of peat and soft water (19-80 μS/cm), which is important for breeding.

In water from nature, the results are generally better with pencilfish than when using osmosis or ion exchangers. Good filtration and regular water changes are essential. In South Bohemia we have about 4000 ponds and many forest ponds where there is still plenty of quality live food. This is mainly plankton, but also mosquito larvae and larvae of other insect species.

Male Nannostomus sp. super red Amaya - wild caught.

Nannostomus sp. super red Amaya F1 generation.

Nannostomus sp. super red Amaya F2 generation.

Nannostomus sp. super red Amaya adult female ready to spawn.

Nannostomus sp. super red Amaya spawning in a normal about 15 liter spawning tank.

Nannostomus sp. super red Amaya spawning. In this "egg trap" a spawning grate is placed about 2 cm above the bottom.

Nannostomus sp. super red Amaya spawning. In this ceramic container there is also a spawning grate under the Java moss.

I keep the fish of these two species in aquariums that I have placed in the lower part of the breeding facility so that the temperature is as low as possible. 20-22°C is sufficient for keeping. I was inspired to do this by the findings of Marilyn WEITZMAN, who researched these areas including water temperature and was surprised how cold it is here. She dedicated her work to me. We had similar findings during our expeditions between Cuzco and Iquitos in Peru, the water temperature is extremely low here, especially in some places (Rios Urubamba, Ucayali but also Marañon). I try to keep the temperature from rising above 24 °C. Old aquarists will remember what rules originally applied to the keeping and breeding of the neon tetra (Paracheirodon innesi). With them, too, the temperature was not allowed to exceed 24 °C, otherwise there was no spawning, the females got "swollen" bellies and so-called hardened. In addition to a number of plants (especially Echinodorus and Microsorum pteropus species), I also have various stones and tubes in the aquariums to provide sufficient hiding places. However, these fish are not as territorial as N. mortenthaleri. It is an experience to watch them eat, especially when they feed on small insects and mosquito larvae, because they can literally stuff themselves. As a supplementary food I use various types of food from Dr. Gerald Bassleer in size "M" (also for other tetras, catfish and South American dwarf cichlids, including size "S" for fry).

An experienced aquarist can easily tell when a female is properly ready to spawn, how her belly rounds. This is also related to the increasing attention that the males pay to these females. It is these fish that we separate from the breeding aquarium into the spawning tank. Another option is to breed the fish in a community aquarium or species aquarium. For this I have invented various devices ("egg traps"), as you can see in the pictures (there is always a spawning grate inside!). The starting food is either Parametium or, if we have the possibility, Rotatoria. Later fine plankton, but also quality artificial food commensurate with the size of the fry's mouth. The young reach the full coloration of the adults after 3 months.

Male Nannostomus sp. super red Cenepa.

Spawning of Nannostomus sp. super red Cenepa.

Another, less efficient way of spawning Nannostomus sp. super red Cenepa.

Nannostomus sp. super red Cenepa - young at the age of 3 months.

Nannostomus sp. super red Cenepa adult female.

The productivity of all four species of red pencilfish also varies depending on the stickiness of the eggs. Some pairs stick the eggs lightly to plant leaves, which is good food not only for the parents but also for the others. In other pairs I have observed how easily some eggs fall through the spawning grate and are thus protected from cannibalism by the parents. I remember how I started keeping Margena's tetra in the 60s. From the first spawnings I had 3-8 young, about 3-4 years later 80-100 without problems. I think it will be similar with these new species. The first individual successes will surely multiply in the following years. You just have to persevere.

Tetras from various families are still among the most sought-after fish for the community aquarium. Lebiasinidae are not as widespread in our aquariums as better known representatives of other tetra families. For enthusiasts who want to try something new, the "floating pencils" offer an attractive alternative. Despite their small size and slender body, pencilfish are considered to be closely related to the predatory tetras of the Erythrinidae family. However, this is not evident in aquariums!