Care and Compatibility of Three lined Pencilfish - Nannostomus Trifasciatus


Introduction

The Three-lined Pencilfish has an elongated and slender body, with a generally silver coloration. It features three dark vertical bands along its body, giving it its characteristic name. These bands can vary in color, ranging from black to olive green, depending on the species and the fish's condition. Its size is relatively small, reaching around 4-5 centimeters in length.

Behavior

The Three-lined Pencilfish, also known as Three-lined Pencil Tetra, is a small and attractive fish found in freshwater areas of South America. It is characterized by its elongated and slender body, and its three distinctive bands running along its length. It is a peaceful and sociable fish that can adapt well to a community aquarium.

Sexual Dimorphism

Sexual dimorphism in Nannostomus trifasciatus is minimal and difficult to distinguish. Both males and females have a similar appearance outside of the breeding season. During breeding, males may show slightly more intense colors.

Reproduction

Breeding the Three-lined Pencilfish in the aquarium can be challenging and requires specific conditions. It is recommended to provide them with a suitable environment with aquatic plants and hiding spots where they can deposit their eggs. The eggs are fertilized by the male and hatch within a few days. The fry can be fed with infusoria and powdered foods until they are large enough to accept larger foods.

Aquarium Conditions

Nannostomus trifasciatus, commonly known as the three-lined pencilfish, requires a well-planted aquarium with open swimming areas. It prefers slightly acidic to neutral water and a warm temperature. Aquarium décor should include soft plants and hiding spots. Maintaining water quality is crucial and providing a balanced diet.

Feeding

They are omnivorous fish and accept a variety of foods in their diet. They primarily feed on small live organisms, such as insects and larvae, but also accept commercial foods in the form of flakes or pellets. It is recommended to supplement their diet with vegetable-based foods, such as spirulina flakes or blanched and crushed vegetables.

Complexity

Caring for Nannostomus trifasciatus can be moderately challenging. They are peaceful and active fish that adapt well to a variety of water conditions. However, they are sensitive to poor water quality and require regular water changes. They are omnivores and accept a variety of foods, but prefer live and frozen foods.


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To do an analysis more detailed about coexistence and behavior of Nannostomus Trifasciatus (Three lined Pencilfish) use the Aquarium simulation tool, if you do this you can test different ways to combine the Three lined Pencilfish with other fishes giving the dimensions and space on you aquarium, on this way you can known the optimal configuration for keep the fishes that you want.

You can also find out the 95 species compatible with the Nannostomus Trifasciatus (Three lined Pencilfish) can live together.

Note: The parameters of the water such as PH and temperature are also used to calculate the compatibility of the species.


Compatible species (95)

Compatible (72 Species)

Compatible without any restriction


Striped Raphael Catfish - Platydoras costatus

Striped Raphael Catfish

Platydoras costatus

Golden Royal Pleco - Sturisoma aureum

Golden Royal Pleco

Sturisoma aureum

Celestial eye goldfish - Carassius auratus V

Celestial eye goldfish

Carassius auratus V

Freshwater angelfish - Pterophyllum scalare

Freshwater angelfish

Pterophyllum scalare

Swordtail fish - Xiphophorus hellerii

Swordtail fish

Xiphophorus hellerii

Pearl gourami - Trichogaster leerii

Pearl gourami

Trichogaster leerii

Molly fish - Poecilia sphenops

Molly fish

Poecilia sphenops

Butterfly Loach - Beaufortia leveretti

Butterfly Loach

Beaufortia leveretti

Yoyo Loach - Botia almorhae

Yoyo Loach

Botia almorhae

Goldeneye Dwarf Cichlid - Nannacara anomala

Goldeneye Dwarf Cichlid

Nannacara anomala

Tiger Barb - Puntius tetrazona

Tiger Barb

Puntius tetrazona

German Blue Ram - Microgeophagus ramirezi

German Blue Ram

Microgeophagus ramirezi

Bleeding Heart Tetra - Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma

Bleeding Heart Tetra

Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma

Hatchet Fish - Thoracocharax stellatus

Hatchet Fish

Thoracocharax stellatus

Glassy Perchlet - Parambassis ranga

Glassy Perchlet

Parambassis ranga

Platy Fish - Xiphophorus maculatus

Platy Fish

Xiphophorus maculatus

Red-eyed Tetra - Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae

Red-eyed Tetra

Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae

Apple Snail - Pomacea bridgesii

Apple Snail

Pomacea bridgesii

Female Siamese Fighting Fish - Betta Splendens Female

Female Siamese Fighting Fish

Betta Splendens Female

Male siamese fighting fish - betta splendens male

Male siamese fighting fish

betta splendens male

Dwarf Gourami - Colisa lalia

Dwarf Gourami

Colisa lalia

Zebrafish - Danio rerio

Zebrafish

Danio rerio

Black Skirt Tetra - Gymnocorymbus ternetzi

Black Skirt Tetra

Gymnocorymbus ternetzi

Harlequin Rasbora - Trigonostigma Heteromorpha

Harlequin Rasbora

Trigonostigma Heteromorpha

Emperor Tetra - Nematobrycon Palmeri

Emperor Tetra

Nematobrycon Palmeri

Otocinclus Catfish - Otocinclus Affinis

Otocinclus Catfish

Otocinclus Affinis

Ember Tetra - Hemigrammus Rhodostomus

Ember Tetra

Hemigrammus Rhodostomus

Serpae Tetra - Hyphessobrycon Eques

Serpae Tetra

Hyphessobrycon Eques

Wasp Goby - Brachygobius Xanthozona

Wasp Goby

Brachygobius Xanthozona

Glowlight Tetra - Hemigrammus Erythrozonus

Glowlight Tetra

Hemigrammus Erythrozonus

Black Neon Tetra - Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi

Black Neon Tetra

Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi

Neon tetra fish - Paracheirodon innesi

Neon tetra fish

Paracheirodon innesi

Ember Tetra - Hyphessobrycon Amandae

Ember Tetra

Hyphessobrycon Amandae

Ruby Tetra - Axelrodia riesei

Ruby Tetra

Axelrodia riesei

Green Neon Tetra - Paracheirodon Simulans

Green Neon Tetra

Paracheirodon Simulans

Galaxy Rasbora - Danio margaritatus

Galaxy Rasbora

Danio margaritatus

Three lined Pencilfish - Nannostomus Trifasciatus

Three lined Pencilfish

Nannostomus Trifasciatus

Glass Catfish - Kryptopterus bicirrhis

Glass Catfish

Kryptopterus bicirrhis

Boraras Brigittae Fish - Boraras Brigittae

Boraras Brigittae Fish

Boraras Brigittae

Cherry Barb - Barbus titteya

Cherry Barb

Barbus titteya

Filamented Rainbowfish - Iriatherina Werneri

Filamented Rainbowfish

Iriatherina Werneri

Endler Guppy Fish - Poecilia Wingei

Endler Guppy Fish

Poecilia Wingei

Black Phantom Tetra - Hyphessobrycon Megalopterus

Black Phantom Tetra

Hyphessobrycon Megalopterus

Upside-Down Catfish - Synodontis nigriventris

Upside-Down Catfish

Synodontis nigriventris

Espei Rasbora - Trigonostigma espei

Espei Rasbora

Trigonostigma espei

Forktail Blue-Eye - Pseudomugil furcatus

Forktail Blue-Eye

Pseudomugil furcatus

Blue-Eyed Pseudomugil - Pseudomugil paskai

Blue-Eyed Pseudomugil

Pseudomugil paskai

Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid - Apistogramma viejita

Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid

Apistogramma viejita

Clown Pleco - Panaqolus maccus

Clown Pleco

Panaqolus maccus

Pictus Catfish - Pimelodus pictus

Pictus Catfish

Pimelodus pictus

Royal Pleco - Panaque nigrolineatus

Royal Pleco

Panaque nigrolineatus

Congo Tetra - Phenacogrammus interruptus

Congo Tetra

Phenacogrammus interruptus

Lacustris Rainbowfish - Melanotaenia lacustris

Lacustris Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia lacustris

Dwarf Tetra - Hasemania nana

Dwarf Tetra

Hasemania nana

Preacox Rainbowfish - Melanotaenia preacox

Preacox Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia preacox

Semifasciolatus Barb - Puntius semifasciolatus

Semifasciolatus Barb

Puntius semifasciolatus

Moenkhausia Pittieri - Moenkhausia pittieri

Moenkhausia Pittieri

Moenkhausia pittieri

Stiphodon Ornatus - Stiphodon ornatus

Stiphodon Ornatus

Stiphodon ornatus

Anentome Helena - Anentome helena

Anentome Helena

Anentome helena

IndoPlanorbis Exustus - Planorbis planorbis

IndoPlanorbis Exustus

Planorbis planorbis

Horned Snail - Tyloperlamania sp

Horned Snail

Tyloperlamania sp

Red Cherry - Neocaridina davidi

Red Cherry

Neocaridina davidi

Amano Shrimp - Caridina multidentata

Amano Shrimp

Caridina multidentata

Blue Bee Shrimp - Paracaridina sp

Blue Bee Shrimp

Paracaridina sp

Bamboo Shrimp - Atyopsis moluccensis

Bamboo Shrimp

Atyopsis moluccensis

Florida Dwarf Crayfish - Cambarellus diminutus

Florida Dwarf Crayfish

Cambarellus diminutus

Red-Backed Tetra - Hyphessobrycon bentosi

Red-Backed Tetra

Hyphessobrycon bentosi

Spotted Dora Catfish - Agamyxus pectinifrons

Spotted Dora Catfish

Agamyxus pectinifrons

Lemon Tetra - Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis

Lemon Tetra

Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis

Similar Sizes (7 Species)

They can coexist if they are the same size or very similar sizes, it does not work in all cases, there may be exceptions.


Boeseman's Rainbowfish - Melanotaenia Boesemani

Boeseman's Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia Boesemani

Denison Barb - Puntius denisonii

Denison Barb

Puntius denisonii

Flag Cichlid - Mesonauta festivus

Flag Cichlid

Mesonauta festivus

Empire Gudgeon - Hypseleotris compressa

Empire Gudgeon

Hypseleotris compressa

Stick Catfish - Farlowella acus

Stick Catfish

Farlowella acus

Red Rainbowfish - Glossolepis incisus

Red Rainbowfish

Glossolepis incisus

Altum Angelfish - Pterophyllum altum

Altum Angelfish

Pterophyllum altum

With Reservation (7 Species)

Compatible in some cases, it depends on the nature and personality of the fish.


Discus fish - Symphysodon aequifasciatus

Discus fish

Symphysodon aequifasciatus

Upside-Down Catfish - Synodontis eupterus

Upside-Down Catfish

Synodontis eupterus

Siamese Algae Eater - Crossocheilus Siamensis

Siamese Algae Eater

Crossocheilus Siamensis

Firemouth Cichlid - Cichlasoma meeki

Firemouth Cichlid

Cichlasoma meeki

Paradise Fish - Macropodus Opercularis

Paradise Fish

Macropodus Opercularis

Dwarf marbled catfish - Microglanis poecilus

Dwarf marbled catfish

Microglanis poecilus

Considerable size difference (8 Species)

They can coexist while they are similar in size or the size difference is not very abysmal, since as the fish grows it increases the chances of eating its partner that did not grow much.


Comet Goldfish - Carassius auratus III

Comet Goldfish

Carassius auratus III

Galaxy Plecostomus - Leporacanthicus sp L240

Galaxy Plecostomus

Leporacanthicus sp L240

Kissing Gourami - Helostoma temminckii

Kissing Gourami

Helostoma temminckii

Severum Cichlid - Heros efasciatus

Severum Cichlid

Heros efasciatus

Silver Dollar Fish - Metynnis argenteus

Silver Dollar Fish

Metynnis argenteus

Convict Cichlid - Amatitlania nigrofasciata

Convict Cichlid

Amatitlania nigrofasciata

Coolie loach - Pangio kuhlii

Coolie loach

Pangio kuhlii

Leopard Cactus Pleco - Hypancistrus Furunculus L199

Leopard Cactus Pleco

Hypancistrus Furunculus L199

Compatible if space is enough (1 Species)

They can coexist together if the aquarium they share is large and spacious enough for both species to feel good, as some fish may attack others to feel that they have little space and try to eliminate the competition.


Kribensis Cichlid - Pelvicachromis pulcher

Kribensis Cichlid

Pelvicachromis pulcher

Three lined Pencilfish

Nannostomus Trifasciatus

Three lined Pencilfish - Nannostomus Trifasciatus
  • Ph: 5.5 - 7
  • Temperature (c°): 24 - 28
  • Measures: 4 cm - 6cm
  • Aquarium Capacity:
    9 Liters - 2 Gallons
  • Behavior: Peaceful, Shoal
  • Size: Small
  • Swimming area: Swim in the middle of the aquarium
  • Water Type: Sweet water