To date, only two species,
N. beckfordi and
N. harrisoni, have been commercially raised for the aquarium trade in fisheries, mostly in
Asia. All of the remaining species that find their way to home
aquaria are wild-caught from South American waters.
Nannostomus species thrive in home aquaria when provided with soft, moderately acidic water, low nitrate levels, and temperatures in the range of . The addition of
aquatic plants is recommended, including floating varieties as they reduce the likelihood of fish jumping, a common occurrence for some of the species, especially
N. espei and
N. unifasciatus. They should be kept in
schools of at least six, or in a
community aquarium with other species of
Nannostomus, other small peaceful
characins, or
corydoras. Aquariums with a strong water current, large tankmates, or swift-moving species should be avoided. If kept in a thickly planted single-species aquarium with the above water parameters, most species will spawn, eggs will not be eaten, and
fry will be found growing in the floating plants. Baby
brine shrimp, live or frozen, and other small-sized foods are required for both fry and adults. They are also avid
biofilm grazers and, for most of the species,
algae are under-reported staples of their diet. In most species, the males establish small territories and defend them. Their defensive actions are usually harmless, but in two species,
N. mortenthaleri and
N. trifasciatus, antagonistic behavior directed at
conspecifics can be harmful if sufficient space and plant cover is not provided. Once acclimated to the aquarium and provided with suitable conditions, they are hardy, often living for five or more years. ==References==