Home / Fishes / Tetras, piranhas and pacus / Spotted headstander
No federal permit to keepSpotted headstander
Chilodus punctatus
Fishes › Tetras, piranhas and pacus (Characiformes) › Chilodontidae (Headstanders)
Chilodus punctatus, known as the spotted headstander or pearl headstander, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Chilodidae, the headstanders.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 42 in long and 15 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 7.1 in / 18 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 75–82°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 6–7.
- Hardness: 0–10 dGH.
- Layout: An open-water swimmer: needs long, open swimming space with few obstacles.
- Diet: Eats a varied diet: mix quality prepared foods with frozen and live foods. FishBase classes it as a omnivore.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 35 × 12 in (roughly 21 US gallons); space needed is rated “large tank”.
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 68–82 °F, pH 5–7.5, 1–10 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament peaceful; kept alone; not a community fish.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “A biotope -style set-up could consist of a sandy substrate with driftwood roots and branches, leaf litter and floating vegetation.”
- Diet: “Omnivorous and will accept most foods offered, with the stomach contents of wild specimens varying on a seasonal basis but mostly comprising insects and insect larvae (orders Trichoptera, Hemiptera, Homoptera) plus some terrestrial fruits and even scales of…”
- Tankmates: “Relatively shy and peaceful and does not appreciate the presence of boisterous or fast-moving species.”
- Breeding: “Has apparently occurred although we've been unable to obtain details thus far.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Tetras and other characins
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Soft, tea-colored rivers and streams. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Planted tanks with subdued light; many prefer soft, slightly acidic water.
- Schools of six or more (more is better); hatchetfish need tight lids.
Diet
- Small community tetras can use appropriately sized prepared and invertebrate foods; this is not a diet for every characin. Adult Hoplias malabaricus is a fish predator and needs a separate feeding guide.
Social life
- Schooling fish.
Health watch
- Stress and ich if water swings or schools are too small.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
The spotted headstander has a body that extends grayish and green colors over its body and sets off the colors with rows of brown specks. This fish is given the name due to its distinctive head-down swimming position (at 45°).
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Chilodus punctatus” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 75–82 °F (24–28 °C), pH 6–7, hardness 10 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: open water/substratum egg scatterers. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 75–82 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 90°F (up to 95°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 70°F (down to 64°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 78–81°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 77–84% on average (driest month about 76%) |
| Rainfall | about 2342 mm a year |
Measured at 236 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Chilodus punctatus, known as the spotted headstander or pearl headstander, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Chilodidae, the headstanders. The spotted headstander has a body that extends grayish and green colors over its body and sets off the colors with rows of brown specks. This fish is given the name due to its distinctive head-down swimming position (at 45°). These fish usually remain in the shade, emerging to feed. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Typical adult weight
Average adult body mass in each database (FishBase gives the maximum recorded weight).
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as total length. Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
Water hardness
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 35 × 12 in (about 21 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional diseases of fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Seasonal diet shifts of seven fish species in an Atlantic rainforest stream in Southeastern Brazil (2003) Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Seriously Fish — Paracheirodon innesi Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.