How many Beckford's Pencilfish should I keep together?

You should keep a minimum of 6, but a group of 10 or more is highly recommended. A larger group helps spread out the harmless territorial bickering among the males and makes the fish feel much more secure.

Why has my pencilfish changed colour at night?

This is completely normal. Pencilfish possess a distinct nocturnal colouration where their horizontal stripe fades and vertical bars appear. This acts as camouflage against predators while they rest in the dark.

Are Beckford's Pencilfish fin nippers?

No, they are very peaceful towards other species and have mouths too small to cause damage. Any sparring or nipping you observe will usually be strictly between rival males of their own species.

Why are my pencilfish not brightly coloured?

Colouration is heavily dependent on environment, diet, and sex. Females are naturally paler. Males will show the best red colouration when fed high-quality live/frozen foods, kept in slightly acidic, tannin-stained water, and provided with a dark substrate and floating plants to reduce stress.

Can I keep them with shrimp?

They are generally safe with adult Neocaridina and Amano shrimp. However, owing to their micropredatory nature, any tiny shrimplets that fit into their mouths may be eaten.

FreshwaterTropicalBeginner

Beckford's Pencilfish

Nannostomus beckfordi

An elegant, active shoaling fish renowned for the intense red colouration and fascinating sparring displays of the males.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 22 – 28 °C
pH range: 5 – 7.5
Hardness: 1 – 15 dGH
Adult size: 3.5 – 4 cm
60L (Standard 2ft tank): 60 litres+
Lifespan: 3 – 5 years
Diet: Omnivorous micro-predator. Requires small-granule dry foods and regular live/frozen foods like Daphnia, Cyclops, and Artemia nauplii.
Water flow: Gentle
Preferred setup: Heavily planted with driftwood, leaf litter, and floating plants to diffuse light.

About the Beckford's Pencilfish

Beckford's Pencilfish is a staple of the South American planted aquarium. Possessing a streamlined, torpedo-like body, they are immediately identifiable by a bold dark stripe running from the snout to the tail. What truly sets them apart is the behaviour of the males; when competing for dominance or female attention, their lower bodies ignite with a brilliant crimson, and they engage in ritualistic, side-by-side lateral displays. While they are a peaceful community fish, this constant internal hierarchy provides endless entertainment for the observant aquarist.

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Is it right for your tank?

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Where Beckford's Pencilfish comes from

Native range

Amazon Basin, Guiana Shield

Countries / regions

Brazil, Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname

Habitat

Slow-moving tributaries, swampy margins, and flooded forests rich in tannins and overhanging terrestrial vegetation.

Widespread across the Guianas and the lower to middle Amazon basin.

Similar species

Coral Red Pencilfish
Nannostomus mortenthaleri
Dwarf Pencilfish
Nannostomus marginatus
Brown Pencilfish
Nannostomus eques

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

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Corydoras
Corydoras spp.
Peaceful bottom dwellers that completely ignore the mid-to-top swimming pencilfish.
Great
Ember Tetra
Hyphessobrycon amandae
Similarly sized, peaceful South American tetras that share the same water parameter requirements.
Great
Apistogramma
Apistogramma spp.
Dwarf cichlids occupy the lower regions of the tank; pencilfish act as excellent dither fish to make them feel secure.
Great
Angelfish
Pterophyllum scalare
Adult angelfish may view small, slender pencilfish as a potential food source.
Compatible with caution
Tiger Barb
Puntigrus tetrazona
Too boisterous and aggressive; they will outcompete the pencilfish for food and cause severe stress.
Not recommended

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