Coral Red Pencilfish Care & Breeding Guide (Nannostomus mortenthaleri) | Nano Fish Spotlight

Breeding & Caring Coral Red Pencil Fish Beginners Guide

Dive into the captivating world of the Coral Red Pencilfish (Nannostomus mortenthaleri), the ultimate centerpiece for your blackwater or planted nano aquarium! Unlike boisterous tetras, this fish is a stunning, peaceful characin that thrives in soft, acidic conditions.

In this complete guide, Serendib Aquatics covers everything you need to know, from their native Peruvian Amazon origin to the delicate process of breeding them at home:

Video Chapters (Timestamps)
0:00 - Introduction to the Coral Red Pencilfish
0:29 - Natural Origin & Habitat (Peruvian Amazon Blackwater)
1:05 - Appearance & Behavior (Red Stripes, Head-Up 'Hover')
1:50 - Tank Setup Guide (Blackwater, Leaf Litter, Shade)
2:45 - Water Chemistry (Ideal pH, Hardness, and Temp for Spawning)
3:30 - Group Size & Best Peaceful Tank Mates
4:15 - Diet & Feeding (Live/Frozen Food for Max Color)
5:00 - Sexing Nannostomus mortenthaleri (Male vs. Female)
5:40 - Advanced Breeding Walkthrough (Setup, Triggering, Spawning)
7:10 - Egg & Fry Care (Incubation, First Foods, Water Stability)
8:00 - Essential Tips (Quarantine, Botanicals, Stock Selection)

Key Care Parameters
To keep the beautiful Coral Red Pencilfish at peak color and health, focus on replicating their soft, acidic, tannin-rich habitat:

pH: 4.5–6.5 (Aim for pH 5.0 for breeding)
Hardness: Very Soft to Soft (~5°dGH maximum)
TDS: Keep low (Below 100 for breeding)
Temperature: 24–26°C ideal (22–28°C tolerated)
Tank: Dark substrate, heavy planting, driftwood, leaf litter, and gentle flow. Remember: they are jumpers!
Group Size: Minimum 10+ fish to diffuse aggression and encourage natural behavior.

Breeding the Nano Characin
Breeding the Nannostomus mortenthaleri is achievable but requires a dedicated, dim blackwater breeding tank. We show you our process for successful egg collection:

Condition heavily with live foods (like mosquito larvae).

Set up a separate tank with Java moss/fine plants and an egg trap (mesh/marbles).

Trigger spawning by reducing temperature to 23-24°C using cool, pH 5.5 RO water.
Remove adults immediately after the night spawn to prevent egg predation.
Raise fry on infusoria/paramecia, transitioning to baby brine shrimp.
Have you kept the Coral Red Pencilfish (Nannostomus mortenthaleri) before? Share your success stories and questions in the comments below! ????

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