Pencil fish

Pencil fish are small, slender freshwater fishes in the South American genus Nannostomus. Their elongated bodies and distinctive patterns make them popular aquarium fish.

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Nannostomus: A genus of small South American freshwater fishes known as pencilfishes. Pencil fish are members of this genus, whose species vary in color and pattern.
Surface feeding: A feeding strategy in which an animal takes food from or just below the water surface. Many pencilfishes feed near the surface, where small insects and other prey collect.
Freshwater aquarium: A contained aquatic habitat designed for freshwater organisms. Pencilfishes are kept in planted freshwater aquariums.
Hatchetfish: Small surface-dwelling freshwater fishes with deep, hatchet-shaped bodies. Hatchetfishes share surface habitats with pencilfishes but have a very different body shape.
Lebiasinidae: A family of small freshwater fishes native to Central and South America. Nannostomus belongs to this family of characiform fishes.
Insectivory: A diet based mainly on insects or other arthropods. Small invertebrates are a major food source for pencilfishes in the wild.
Aquascaping: The practice of arranging aquatic plants, rocks, and other materials in an aquarium. Dense planting and open swimming areas suit the habitats and behaviors of pencilfishes.
Tetra: A common name for numerous small freshwater fishes, especially characiform species. Pencilfishes are sometimes grouped with aquarium tetras, but belong to a different family.
Nannostomus beckfordi: A widespread pencilfish species with a dark lateral stripe and red coloration in males. It is one of the best-known species kept in aquariums.
Schooling behavior: Coordinated group swimming in which fish align their movement and spacing. Pencilfishes often gather in groups, especially in aquariums and open patches of water.