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Nannostomus beckfordi, Günther, 1872

Origin: Guyana countries, lower Rio Negro and middle Amazonas river.

Etymology:

Synonyms:Nannostomus anomalus, Nannostomus aripiragensis, Nannostomus simplex

First European import:Germany, 1911, By C. Siggelkow.

Description:See pictures, variable species.

Care: Less demanding than other Nannostomus species, Nannostomus beckfordi can be kept in regular community tanks as long as they aren't kept together with predatory fish or larger cichlids. The fish can be kept in most types of water, although they are best kept in soft acidic water. Furthermore, some densely planted zones and preferably a dark soil should be provided to Nannostomus beckfordi. Peat filtration is highly recommended. Nannostomus beckfordi is a quiet peacefull fish, and a small school of these fish can be a beautifull and interesting sight in a community tank.

Temperature:24-26 degrees

Feeding:Small live and flake food.

Size: Up to 6.5 cm.

pH: 6.0-7.5 Hardness up to 20 dGH

Breeding: In soft acidic water (DH below 12(best 6 or lower), pH=5.5-6.5) Nannostomus beckfordi can be bred. The fish should be fed extremely well prior to breeding, most failed breeding attempts are related to vitamin deficiency. Black mosquito larvae and small insects increase the chance of succes. If a female is ready to mate, she should be added to the breeding tank a day or two before the male is added. It's best to add the male in the evening, and usually spawning will occur the next morning.Although Nannostomus beckfordi has been reported not to eat the eggs, still it's better to remove them after spawning, and to protect the eggs. To accomplish this the spawning tank should be equipped with a substrate that will disable the parents to eat their own eggs. The up to 200 fry will hatch in around 2 days, and will be fully free swimming after 6 days. At that stage they can immediately be fed with artemia nauplii. The fry grow very fast, and can be ready to reproduce again in 6-7 months. Both eggs and fry are sensitive to large amounts of infusoria.

Sexual dimorphism: Males are thinner than the females, and have a red anal fin and a red lower caudal fin.

Prices:Netherlands: 2.5-2.7€

Additional:

Picture references:All pictures E. Naus

References:Baensch, H. A., Riehl, R.(1982): Aquarien Atlas I. Mergus Verlag, Melle, Germany.Pinter, H.(1966): Handbuch der Aquarienfischzucht. Alfred Kernen Verlag, Stuttgart, Germany.

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In stores the fish often look like these last two pictures: