Chilodus gracilis

A small, unique schooling characin, the Spotted or Graceful Headstander Tetra is named for the distinctive “head down” posture they typically swim in. In the wild, they are usually found in large aggregations in shallow water areas and graze on insect larvae, crustaceans, and biofilm. In the aquarium, they are relatively hardy but will do best in warm, slightly acidic water with plenty of cover and minimal current. A tightly schooling fish, they should be kept in groups of at least 5, with larger groups making for a very distinctive display in a medium to large aquarium.