Description
It swims tilted, head up and tail down: that posture defines the hockeystick pencilfish, and among the Nannostomus only N. unifasciatus repeats it. It comes from the central and upper Amazon, the Orinoco and the rivers of Guyana, and circulates also as the rocket, diptail or tubemouth pencilfish.
The brown spots on its scales separate it from unifasciatus. In addition, genetic work on the Río Negro suggests there may be a set of cryptic species under this name.
Behavior
Very peaceful but shy, and ill-suited to a lively community. Best in a group of ten or more, with which it gains confidence; disputes between males usually stay at displays.
It lives well with peaceful characids of its size, corydoras and small loricariids. Since it moves between the middle and upper zones and does not prey on fry, it is a good dither fish for dwarf cichlids.
Avoid housing it with boisterous or large fish.
Habitat
Nannostomus eques haunts slow creeks, minor rivers and marshy ground, often in flooded forest and blackwater floodplain ponds. In a small stream of the lower Atabapo, in Colombia, the readings are pH 4.4, under 1 °dH and 24.4 °C, in water 10 to 50 cm deep among submerged land vegetation.
It does best in a heavily planted tank on a dark substrate, with patches of floating plants around which it gathers.
Pez lápiz de palo de hockey is a schooling species, which means that in the wild it lives and moves in large, coordinated groups.
Keep at least 6 individuals so they feel comfortable and their stress level stays low.
Details
🌊 Water parameters
🐠 Minimum tank size
Breeding
It has been bred in aquariums, though seldom. Unlike nearly all of its genus it lays its eggs in one batch under the broad leaves of plants such as Anubias, and eats any it finds, so the adults or the leaf must be removed as soon as eggs appear.
Males are more colourful, slimmer and have a larger anal fin.
Diet
A micropredator of zooplankton and tiny invertebrates.
- Staple: very small dry food.
- Supplement: brine shrimp, moina or grindal worm, live or frozen, daily.
What about your tank?
Enter your tank's values to see only the compatible species that fit them. Litres apply to fish.
Compatible fish
General guidance based on water parameters, behaviour and known exceptions; always review the individual animals' and aquarium's specific needs.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 25–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–24 °C.
They share water: pH 5–7 and 27–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 25–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 4.5–6.5 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–24 °C.
They share water: pH 4.5–7 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5–7.5 and 22–27 °C.
They share water: pH 4.5–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–27 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 4.5–6.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5–7.5 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7.5 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7.5 and 22–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
Compatible invertebrates
General guidance based on water parameters, behaviour and known exceptions; always review the individual animals' and aquarium's specific needs.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–6.5 and 22–24 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5 and 26–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.8–6.8 and 22–24 °C.
They share water: pH 5.8–6.8 and 22–24 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5 and 27–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
.jpg){kind=link}
_1.jpg){kind=link}
.JPG){kind=link}
_02.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
_1.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–28 °C.
Sources
- FishBaseFroese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2026. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication.
- Seriously FishSeriously Fish. Nannostomus eques. Ficha de especie; consultada 2026-10.
Water: FishBase gives pH 5-6, 5-12 dH and 23-28 °C; Seriously Fish, pH 4.5-7.5, 1-10 dGH and 22-28 °C. The profile uses the widest range. Size: 5 cm TL in FishBase and 3.5 cm SL in Seriously Fish; the larger is taken.
Litres per fish and minimum tank height and depth: the profile's own judgement. Seriously Fish gives only the tank base and FishBase gives no tank sizes.
Plan your next aquarium
Is this fish right for you? Plan a suitable aquarium before setting it up.