Striped Headstander
Anostomus anostomus
Also known as: striped anostomus
A boldly striped South American fish that swims nose-down and plays rough with its own kind.
About
The striped headstander (Anostomus anostomus) is one of the more distinctive fish you'll encounter from South American rivers, native to the Amazon and Orinoco basins as well as Suriname. Its most immediately noticeable trait is its habit of tilting head-down at an oblique angle while swimming. A posture shared by several members of the family Anostomidae and the origin of the "headstander" name. The body is elongate and boldly marked with horizontal stripes that make it easy to identify at a glance. In the wild it gathers in large shoals, but that social harmony doesn't translate automatically to the aquarium. Keep too few together and they become genuinely quarrelsome with one another, nipping and harassing tankmates. The practical advice most experienced keepers land on is either a group of six or more in a spacious tank, or a single specimen alongside peaceful, medium-to-large companions. Larger characids, loricariids, doradids, and calm cichlids all tend to work reasonably well. As an omnivore it accepts a variety of foods including plant matter, worms, and small invertebrates. Breeding in home aquaria is rarely documented, though commercial propagation does occur. This is an intermediate-level fish that rewards keepers who give it room and thoughtful company.
Similar species
Other fish you might consider
Good tank mates
Species that tend to coexist peacefully with Striped Headstander
From the same region
Share the same natural habitat. Great for a biotope-themed tank
Frequently asked questions
- How big does the Striped Headstander get?
- The Striped Headstander reaches about 4–8" as an adult.
- What size tank does the Striped Headstander need?
- A minimum of 29 gallons is recommended for the Striped Headstander, with more room needed for a proper group.
- What water parameters does the Striped Headstander need?
- The Striped Headstander does best with a temperature of 68–82°F, a pH of 5.5–8, hardness around 1–18 dGH.
- Is the Striped Headstander aggressive?
- The Striped Headstander is semi-aggressive. It can work in a community with careful tankmate choices and enough space.
- What does the Striped Headstander eat?
- The Striped Headstander is an omnivore. It does well on a varied diet of quality flake or pellet plus occasional frozen or live foods.
- How long does the Striped Headstander live?
- With good care, the Striped Headstander typically lives 3-5 years.