Above: In the picture is a premium quality Abramite Headstander swimming in one of our aquariums, when one of us snapped this picture.
Comments: These are fabulous looking fish, with a unique pattern of dark and light bars swimming around with their heads pointed down.
Origin: Headstanders are found in South America and are wild fish. But now they live in aquariums all over the world.
Maximum Size: In aquariums Headstanders can grow to be about 5" long, and sometimes larger if fed properly and the water quality is excellent.
Behaviors: Headstanders are usually semi-aggressive fish, and they swim with their heads pointed down.
Compatibility: Some recommended tankmates include community fish that aren't small enough to fit in a Headstander's mouth, including Silver Dollars, Pictus Catfish, and Plecos.
These Headstanders should not be housed with aggressive Cichlids and other large aggressive tankmates.
Click here to read more about compatible groups of pet fish.
Temperature: Headstanders live best from about 72 to 80-degrees F. with 78 being perhaps ideal.
Click here to learn about aquarium temperature, aquarium thermometers, and aquarium heaters.
Feeding: Premium Fish Food Pellets is best to feed to Head Stander. Click here to learn more about and shop online for premium fish foods.
Water Conditions: They're used to lower pH soft water, but these fish can adapt to most types of water, and so as usual it's best not to try to change the pH or alkalinity.
Click here for a lot more information about aquarium water conditions.
Aquarium Size: Headstanders will do fine in an aquarium with at least 30-gallons of water when small, but will eventually need to live in an aquarium with at least 60-gallons of water.
Decor: Headstanders do not need gravel, and a layer of gravel more than 1/4" thick will usually fill with bits of uneaten food that will contaminate the water.
Click here for more about aquarium gravel.
Live plants are beautiful and improve the water quality, but Head Standers are herbivores and may eat the vegetation, so it may be best to feed these fish lettuce and other vegetables.
Aquarium Filter: Bio-Wheel Filters are highly recommended. Most 60-gallon aquariums have room along the back for two Penguin 350B Filters, and this is sort of a minimal wild fish set up.
Better is a 80, 100, or 120-gallon aquarium with as many Penguin 350B Filters as will fit across the back.
Click here to learn more about aquarium filters.
The addition of Lava Rocks will keep nitrates in the ideal range. Click here to learn more about using Lava Rocks in aquariums.
Life Span: Headstanders can live for several years. Keep the water conditions excellent and feed them premium foods, and they may live even longer lives.
Gender: Females are normally deeper-bodied than males.
Breeding: There are no known reports of this wild fish breeding in captivity.
Click here for a lot more about breeding various tropical fish in aquariums.
Popularity: These fish are somewhat popular in the hobby.
Names: The scientific name for Abramite Headstander is Abramites hypselonotus.
Variations: There are several other related species but we know of no variations of this species.
On the other hand the huge Amazon Rainforests are full of variations, so variations may exist.
We hope you've enjoyed reading these comments.
DrT - 01/21/2015
All of our fish are Premium Quality Fish from the best suppliers in the world. Our fish have better health, more energy and brighter colors, as you can see in our pictures on this website.
We have 380-aquariums with lots-and-lots of popular aquarium fish plus lots-and-lots of rare fish!
We consider ourselves to be the link between the world's best sources of fish and the world's best customers. We love our work, and we are very responsible about caring for our fish and then shipping them carefully.
We also offer lots and lots of information about keeping and caring for pet fish, all from the knowledge of the Bailey Brothers, who have a combined total of 100+ years of experience as breeders, wholesalers, and retailers of pet fish!
Our fish and our customers are treated with the best of care, and we work energetically everyday to make sure every customer enjoys their new fishy friends.
When you purchase pet fish from us, you know you're receiving premium quality fish and premium quality service.
"Received my fish last night and was so pleased! They all arrived alive and appeared to be healthy.
"Once in the tank, they became very active and are now thriving in their new home.
"Beautiful fish, I asked for color and aquariumfish delivered. Processing and shipping was extremely quick."
Nevin and DrTom, the Bailey Brothers
This website is owned and operated by the Bailey Brothers, DrTom and Nevin, who've been together in the fish business for more than 50-years.
The Product Manager has been with the company for more than 35-years.
So we feel very confident that this is the fishiest crew anywhere.