Elachocharax pulcher

A tiny, bottom dwelling species of characin found throughout the middle Amazon and its tributaries, the Black Pygmy Darter Characin makes a fascinating resident for nano or biotope themed aquariums. As their name suggests, these fish have a reduced swim bladder and spend most of their time perched on or just above the substrate, “darting” instead of actively swimming in most cases similar to a goby or blenny. In the wild they inhabit a variety of habitats but are usually found in areas with low to moderate current and prefer well oxygenated water. As a shy and relatively slow moving fish, tankmates should be chosen with caution as they can easily be outcompeted for food