Cenepa Super Red Pencilfish
Cenepa Super Red Pencilfish
Cenepa Super Red Pencilfish (Nannostomus sp.) is an unconfirmed pencilfish species from the Río Cenepa in Amazonas region of Peru — one of the most vividly colored Nannostomus available. The 'Super Red' designation reflects the extraordinary intensity of the red coloration. A genuine collector fish.
Feeding & Care Tip: Hikari Micro Pellets (crushed or soaked briefly) and Sera Vipan Baby make excellent daily staples. Supplement 2–3× per week with Hikari Frozen or Freeze-Dried Baby Brine Shrimp and Hikari Frozen Daphnia. Pencilfish are slow, deliberate feeders — avoid fast tankmates that will outcompete them. Feed small amounts 2–3 times daily.
All Nannostomus species inhabit the blackwater and clearwater streams, lakes, and flooded forests of the Amazon and Orinoco basins — soft, acidic, tannin-stained water with dense vegetation and leaf litter. A mature blackwater setup with Indian almond leaves, dark substrate, and very soft slightly acidic water produces the most vivid coloration. Males are territorial with each other — keep more females than males and provide visual breaks with dense planting.
The oblique resting posture — head elevated, body angled downward at roughly 45 degrees — is a characteristic behavior of the Nannostomus genus. Schools adopt synchronized oblique positions at rest, which is both fascinating to observe and unmistakable once seen. The angle varies by species — some hold a gentle tilt while others are nearly vertical. Keep in groups of 8+. Blackwater conditions essential.
A collector find — extraordinary red coloration from a remote Peruvian river, with the added interest of being an unconfirmed species.
Care & Ideal Parameters
| Difficulty | Easy — Moderate |
| Temperament | Peaceful — slow feeder; avoid fast tankmates |
| Typical Adult Size | 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) |
| Min. Group Size | 8 minimum — more females than males |
| Ideal Temp | 73–82°F (23–28°C) |
| Ideal pH | 5.0–7.0 |
| Ideal GH | 0–10 dGH |
| Ideal KH | 0–5 dKH |
| Staple Food | Hikari Micro Pellets (crushed/soaked); Sera Vipan Baby |
| Treat / Supplement | Hikari Frozen or Freeze-Dried Baby Brine Shrimp; Hikari Frozen Daphnia |
| Origin | Río Cenepa, Amazonas region, Peru |
| Notes | Unconfirmed species — Nannostomus sp. from Río Cenepa, Peru. Extraordinary intense red coloration. Collector interest as undescribed species. |
