Norman’s Headstander

Scientific Name: Abramites hypselonotus
Recommended Aquarium: 75+ Gallons
Approx. Adult Size: 5 inches
Temperament: Semi-Aggressive
Ease of Care: Moderate
Diet: Omnivore
Native Waters:Amazon Basin

The Norman’s Headstander, also known as the Marbled Headstander, gets its name from its swimming behavior of tending to swim with its head pointed down most of the time. Even though the headstander tends to point downward, it is known as a jumper so a very secure top should be on the aquarium so that this headstander does not end up on the floor. This fish can be aggressive toward its tank mates, so housing it with larger fish that are also semi-aggressive such as Silver dollars will be the best bet. This fish is an omnivore but it does have a habit of eating live plants in an aquarium. Some who keep this fish report success curbing that plant eating by adding greens such as romaine lettuce to the aquarium on a feeding clip.

Approximate arrival size for the Norman’s Headstander: 1 to 3 inches