Scientific Name:  Chilodus punctatus

Overview:

The Spotted Headstander is a unique South American fish known for its angled, head-down swimming posture. Its spotted pattern and calm schooling behavior make it a great addition to peaceful community aquariums.

Care Level: Easy–Moderate

Temperament: Peaceful, shy

Size: 3–4 inches

Lifespan: 5–8 years

Tank Requirements:

Minimum 20–30 gallons; best kept in groups of 5+ to reduce stress. Provide driftwood, rocks, and dense plants for cover. They appreciate dim lighting and a natural setup.

Water Parameters:

Temperature: 74–82°F

pH: 6.0–7.5

Soft to moderately hard water

Diet:

Omnivore with a strong preference for plant matter. Feed algae wafers, spirulina-based foods, blanched vegetables, and occasional protein (brine shrimp, daphnia).

Tank Mates:

Ideal with peaceful species like tetras, rasboras, Corydoras, and dwarf cichlids. Avoid aggressive or very active fish that may stress them.

Behavior Notes:

Often swims at a slanted angle or head-down while grazing surfaces. Can be shy at first but becomes more active in groups.

Breeding:

Rare in home aquariums; not commonly bred in captivity.

Notes:

Assortment includes a mix of colors and patterns; Exact colors and markings will vary; Stock photo used; fish received may differ.

For the fastest service send us a message here .

Domestic shipping only! Sorry, we cannot ship to anyone in Hawaii & Washington State.

We ship on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday via USPS Priority Mail. Once we get your order, we will ship it within 1 to 5 business days. For the safety of the animals, we do not ship aquatic life on Thursday and Friday. We do not want live aquatic animals sitting in USPS warehouse over the weekend. Thank you for your understanding.

Any orders placed before 12:00 PM on Tuesday will be shipped out that same week. orders placed after 12:00 PM on Tuesday will now be processed the following week

Male/Female: Will be picked at random (no custom orders)

Note: color may be slightly off from photo.

We placed a penny at the corner of the tank so you can have an idea of the size of the fish.

Guaranteed to arrive alive you have one hour of delivery to report any death. You must take a picture while the fish is dead in the bag before it’s opened.

Fish’s color might be off first 3 days due to shipping and stressed fish.

we do not refund shipping costs