Remarks: The barred pencilfish (Nannostomus espei) is a unique and uncommon species of pencilfish that is rarely seen within the hobby. They are a very small species with adults rarely exceeding 1 inch in length and have a pattern consisting of vertical black bars on a body that can be anywhere from silver, to tan, to even gold. A pattern like this is what is usually shown on other species of pencilfish at night as it helps with camouflage, but with the barred pencilfish the pattern is always present. The contrast of black bars on a golden body has made this a rather desirable species despite the difficulty in importing them. This difficulty is mainly due in part to them being from Guyana which is not very consistent with imports. Add on to the fact that the importation process can be rather hard on these tiny fish and it can be clearly seen why the barred pencilfish is not often available to hobbyists. The current group of fish we offer are specifically from the Rio Mazuruni. The habitats that the barred pencilfish calls home consist of blackwater areas that are nearly devoid of current, heavily stained with tannins, very soft in regards to water hardness, contain lots of botanicals such as fallen leaves, are very warm, and have a very low pH that can be as little as 4.0. These conditions are ideal not only for the barred pencilfish, but also the tiny crustaceans and insects that make up a majority of these micropredators' diets. These conditions and protein-based diet should be replicated within the aquarium to allow the barred pencilfish to thrive. Like all pencilfish, they should not be kept in groups smaller than 6-8 to help ensure they feel safe. As they are a very skittish species, they will appreciate having plenty of cover in the form of live plants. Being surface swimmers, to prevent this species from jumping out of the tank when startled, a well-fitting lid should also be utilized. Tankmates for the barred pencilfish should be chosen with care as they are very small and skittish with little to no defense against bullying or predation. Overly aggressive or boisterous species or those large enough to swallow the pencilfish should be avoided. Other small, more docile species that benefit from the same parameters required by the barred pencilfish such as tetras and rasboras can be a great choice. Many house pencilfish with Apistogramma species. The apistos will usually stick to the bottom of the tank while the pencilfish hover at the top so conflict should be minimal if present at all especially since as their genus name of Nannostomus indicates, the pencilfish has a mouth too small to eat even the smallest apisto fry. The presence of the pencilfish actually can help encourage spawning behavior in the apistos as they indicate the area is safe and free of predators. Whether you are seeking to just keep a fascinating species of pencilfish or are looking for a dither fish for dwarf cichlids, the barred pencilfish is an excellent choice sure to bring something truly unique to your aquarium.
