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Encyclopedia / Tetras / High-hat headstander
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Variations

1 kinds · tap one for a closer look

High-hat headstander

Abramites hypselonotus · Marbled headstander, Abramites

Territorial and semi-aggressive; best alone or with large tankmates.

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14 cmBody length, without tail ✓
22–28 °CTemperature ✓
6–7.5pH ✓
108 LSmallest tank ✓
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Tank mates
Check your own mix →
Not recommended
  • High-hat headstander eats animals up to about 3 cm. Neon tetra only grows to 2.5 cm.
Not recommended
  • High-hat headstander eats animals up to about 3 cm. Cardinal tetra only grows to 3 cm.
Not recommended
  • High-hat headstander eats animals up to about 3 cm. Ember tetra only grows to 2 cm.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow pH range suits both: exactly 7.5.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: exactly 22 °C.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

408 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ✓1–15 dGH
Group size ?Can live alone
Temperament ✓Semi-aggressive
Swims at ✓Middle
Care level ✓Easy
Diet Herbivore
Lifespan ?Unknown
Size in shops 5–8 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Territorial and semi-aggressive; best alone or with large tankmates. Eats plants.

Food

Vegetable pellets and greens with occasional frozen foods.

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Male or female

Mature females are deeper-bodied than males.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Egg-scatterer (rarely bred) ·

No captive breeding has been recorded. In the wild, pairs spawn in densely weeded places.

Pairing

Needs a large group in mature, stable conditions; pairing is hard to control.

Setup

Roomy, planted tank with very soft acidic water (pH 5-6.5), subdued light and fine-leaved plants or a spawning mat.

What starts it

Rain-season style changes: soft cool water changes, a small temperature rise and heavy live feeding.

Eggs

n/a

Raising the fry

Infusoria then brine shrimp nauplii; survival is poor without very clean water.

Common mistakes
  • Hard tap water
  • Overcrowding the breeding tank
  • Poor water quality
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionWidespread in South America – Amazon, Orinoco and Paraná–Paraguay basins
Rivers and lakesAmazon, Orinoco and Paraná–Paraguay river systems
HabitatFloodplain rivers and lakes among plants and wood
Native rangeAbout 2,500 km across
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The story of the high-hat headstander

A tall-bodied, high-backed headstander ('hypselonotus' means 'high back') from the Amazon, Orinoco and Paraguay-Parana basins, with a keel behind the pelvic fins unique to its genus.

Albert Günther of the British Museum described this fish in 1868. Its humped back and head-down posture make it instantly recognisable. It has been kept by aquarists for many decades, usually as wild-caught imports from Peru and Brazil.

First described by Albert Günther in 1868.

  • Its scientific name hypselonotus means 'high back', describing its tall arched profile.
  • It feeds head-down, picking at plants, algae and small invertebrates.
  • Adults can become intolerant of their own kind, so they are often kept singly or in big groups.

Sources

15 facts checked with sources