We received this nice headstander in the past years only very occasionally in single specimens as bycatch from Venezuela. Most often the specimens were intermixed in shipments of Anostomus ternetzi or Pseudanos trimaculatus. Finally we were able to import directly a number of the beautiful species.

 

Pseudanos winterbottomi can reach a length of about 15 cm; so it belongs to the group of medium-sized headstanders. The experiences we made with the formerly imported single specimens showed that this species can be kept like all other headstanders: they love well planted, large aquaria with a lot of hiding places.

 

The chemical composition of the water is of no meaning. One should keep these fish at temperatures between 26 and 28°C. The best company are other headstanders, like the already mentioned species, but P. winterbottomi can also be kept with other, peaceful tetras, cichlids and catfish. One should keep in mind that headstanders need some vegetables in their food, otherwise they will destroy waterplants. The species accepts readily any usual food for ornamental fishes.

 

Photos & Text Frank Schäfer