Spotted Headstander
Chilodus punctatus
Chilodontidae
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About
The spotted headstander swims at roughly 45 degrees, nose down, all day. It is not a sign of illness and it is not a swim-bladder problem: it is what the fish is, a browsing characin built to work over surfaces from above, with a small, slightly upward mouth and a thick upper lip. Even the fry do it — Aquadiction notes that once hatched "the fry exhibits a distinct behaviour of swimming with their heads positioned downward". It has a reputation for being delicate, and the reputation is specific rather than vague. Seriously Fish: "It's sensitive to dissolved organic wastes and should never be introduced to a biologically-immature aquarium." Maidenhead Aquatics: "They can be a little delicate and are recommended for mature tanks only." That is the whole difficulty — not exotic water chemistry, but nitrate, a new filter, and a tank that has not settled. Soft and slightly acidic is what it wants (Seriously Fish records 18-179 ppm hardness and pH 5.0-7.5; Maidenhead says "Soft and slightly acidic is best. pH: 6.0-7.5, dH: up to 12 degrees"), and botanicals and leaf litter get you there while doing the tannin work as well. The second half of the difficulty is temperament, and it cuts the other way from most "difficult" fish: it is too gentle for its own good. Seriously Fish calls it "relatively shy and peaceful" and says it "does not appreciate the presence of boisterous or fast-moving species"; Maidenhead warns that "boisterous species can intimidate Spotted Headstanders, so tankmates must be chosen with care". Seriously Fish is the one that names the company: "many tetras, smaller loricariids, Corydoras spp. and peaceful cichlids such as Cleithracara or Mikrogeophagus spp." — loricariids being the suckermouth catfish, not loaches. Aquadiction reprints that list with "small loaches" swapped in, and Maidenhead names no tankmate groups at all. And it needs its own kind: Maidenhead says "best maintained in groups of 6 or more", Seriously Fish that "it can be maintained in a group; although some squabbling is inevitable physical damage is rare provided sufficient cover is available". One thing this species is not is a plant eater, and it is worth saying because plenty of surface-grazing fish are. Seriously Fish addresses it directly: "Submerged vegetation can also be used and although it may browse algae and suchlike from the surface this species should not consume leaves or soft shoots." Nothing in Maidenhead, Aquadiction or FishBase contradicts that, and both Maidenhead and Aquadiction recommend a planted tank for security. This entry's plantSafe flag is not silence — it is a source saying so. Sizes to expect: Seriously Fish gives a maximum standard length of 70-80 mm, Maidenhead and Aquadiction both list 8 cm, Wikipedia says 7 cm. This entry uses 9 cm as total length for a fully grown adult. FishBase carries an outlying 18.0 cm TL record with a 70.5 g weight, which no husbandry source comes near and which is not what a keeper should plan for. One naming note to close on: the family is not settled either. Seriously Fish files the fish in Chilodontidae, which is what this entry uses; FishBase's classification line and Wikipedia's taxobox both say Chilodidae. Same fish, two family names in circulation.
Care
A group of six or more in a mature, soft-water tank of at least 110 litres over a 90 cm base — Seriously Fish specifies minimum base dimensions of 90 x 30 cm, and the volume is raised here because that figure is not printed for a shoal of six 9 cm fish. Sandy substrate, driftwood roots and branches, leaf litter, floating cover to dim the light, and gentle flow with good oxygenation. Water soft and slightly acidic, pH 6.0-7.0, 24-27 °C. Never a new tank: this is the fish that pays for an immature filter. Tankmates must be calm — tetras, Corydoras, smaller suckermouth catfish and peaceful cichlids of the keyhole or ram type — and anything fast and pushy will keep it hiding. Safe with plants; safe with shrimp and snails as far as any source says.
Diet
Omnivore with a browsing mouth. Sinking dried food, algae wafers and blanched greens alongside live and frozen daphnia, Artemia, moina and bloodworm. Wild stomach contents are mostly insects and insect larvae with some fruit — and, per one study, the scales of other fish, which is a wild-river habit rather than something reported from aquaria.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (215)
Possible with care (161)
Avoid (42)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Belly depthA hint only · only on well-fed adults, and only as a comparison
For most tetras, barbs and rasboras this is all there is: a conditioned female is deeper through the belly than a male of the same length.
Also in these lists
Similar species
Same category and the closest water parameters — if this species isn't quite it, start here.
Sold in Lithuania
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Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Spotted Headstander need?
- A Spotted Headstander needs an aquarium of at least 110 litres (29.1 US gallons) with a footprint at least 90 cm (35.4 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Spotted Headstander need?
- Spotted Headstander does best at 20–28 °C (68–82.4 °F), pH 5–7.5 and a general hardness of 1–12 °dGH.
- What group size does a Spotted Headstander need?
- Spotted Headstander is a social species — keep a group of at least 6 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
- Is the Spotted Headstander suitable for beginners?
- Spotted Headstander is a demanding species best attempted with some experience — it needs stable, closely watched conditions to thrive.