Home / Fishes / Tetras, piranhas and pacus / Striped headstander
No federal permit to keepStriped headstander
Anostomus anostomus
Fishes › Tetras, piranhas and pacus (Characiformes) › Anostomidae (Headstanders)
Anostomus anostomus, also known as the striped headstander, striped anostomus, and striped anastomus, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Anostomidae, the toothed headstanders.
Intro from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 30 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 6.3 in / 16 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 72–82°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 6–8.
- Hardness: 5–12 dGH.
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
- 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 47 × 12 in (roughly 29 US gallons); space needed is rated “large tank”.
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 68–82 °F, pH 5.5–7.5, 1–18 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament territorial; kept alone; not a community fish.
- Difficulty: Easy (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “A biotope -style set-up could consist of a sandy substrate, piles of smooth rocks and driftwood roots and branches, some of which should penetrate the water surface.”
- Diet: “This species is an omnivorous grazer browsing solid surfaces for algae, insect larvae and other small items in nature.”
- Tankmates: “Although it occurs in large shoals in nature, it tends to be very quarrelsome with conspecifics if only a few individuals are kept.”
- Breeding: “Information is very scarce.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Headstanders
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: South American headstanders occupy rivers and floodplain waters, with Anostomus grazing rocky fast-flowing margins and Leporinus fasciatus using channels, tributaries, lakes and flooded forest. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- For Anostomus anostomus, at least 120 × 30 cm (48 × 12 in) is the smallest footprint to consider; groups need larger housing.
- For Leporinus fasciatus, provide at least a 210 × 60 cm (84 × 24 in) footprint.
- Fit a secure lid: anostomids are strong jumpers.
- Use sand, smooth rocks and roots or branches; preserve swimming room and expect plants to be eaten.
- Provide mature biological filtration and good oxygenation; Anostomus benefit from water movement and lighting supporting algal grazing.
Climate & lighting
| Water | 68–82°F |
Diet
- For Anostomus, algae wafers and algae growing on solid surfaces.
- Blanched spinach or lettuce, cucumber or courgette.
- Small live or frozen aquatic invertebrates within an omnivorous diet; adjust the plant-to-animal balance to the identified species.
Social life
- A. anostomus can be quarrelsome in small groups: keep one or at least six in a substantially larger tank. Choose robust, suitably sized companions rather than assuming peaceful tetra-like behavior.
Health watch
- Injuries from jumping or territorial aggression.
- Ammonia-related illness in immature aquaria.
- Nutritional deficiencies from an inappropriate diet.
Understanding the animal
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. Uses both the bottom and open water. Adults feed on worms, crustaceans, insects and plant matter. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 72–82 °F (22–28 °C), pH 6–8, hardness 5–12 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: nesters. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 72–82 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 90°F (up to 94°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 70°F (down to 68°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 78–81°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 77–81% on average (driest month about 72%) |
| Rainfall | about 2182 mm a year |
Measured at 79 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 | Anostomus anostomus, also known as the striped headstander, striped anostomus, and striped anastomus, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Anostomidae, the toothed headstanders. — 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 |
| Wild diet | This species is both a limnivore and omnivore. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Reproduction | Males tend to be near the nesting site. Species are not known to have been bred in an aquarium but has probably been bred in commercial hatcheries. — FishBase |
| Appearance and size | This species is pale peach to pinkish in colour, with long, black, lateral stripes. It grows to approximately 20 cm long. The central stripe terminates in an arch shape at the base of the dorsal find. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Biology | Adults feed on worms, crustaceans, insects and plant matter. Distinct pairs breed on densely grown weedy places. — 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.
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.
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 47 × 12 in (about 29 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.
- Seriously Fish — anostomus Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Seriously Fish — leporinus fasciatus Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Merck Veterinary Manual — Disorders and Diseases of Fish 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.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.
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