Tetras · Nannostomus

Golden pencilfish

Nannostomus beckfordi · Amazon basin and the Guianas

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The Golden pencilfish (Nannostomus beckfordi) is a freshwater fish from Amazon basin and the Guianas, where it lives in blackwater stream habitat. Adults reach about 4.5 cm (1.8 in). Keep it at 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) and pH 5.5–7.5, in calm water. It is peaceful and does best in a group of 6 or more. It eats most foods: flakes, small pellets and frozen foods.

At a glance

Water temperature

24–28 °C 75–82 °F

5.5–7.5 neutral water

Adult size

4.5 cm 1.8 in

Swims

Top and mid-water mostly at the surface

Keep together

6 or more a shoal feels safe

Current

Calm still or slow water

Food

Eats most foods

Temperament

Peaceful

≈ Every value here is an estimate from typical hobby ranges. We're checking them against sources.

Where it comes from

Home water

Amazon basin and the Guianas

Lives in blackwater stream habitat.

The dot marks where it's collected. Home from iNaturalist native sightings (19). Map: Natural Earth.

Golden pencilfish

Give us a picture and get credit! ≈

Tetras · NannostomusStaple

24–28°C
pH 5.5–7.5
Calm
1.8 in
Top/mid
Mixed
Peaceful
6+ group!

Golden pencilfish

Nannostomus beckfordi

Amazon basin and the Guianas · blackwater stream

Temperature: 24–28°C
pH: 5.5–7.5
Adult size: 1.8 in · 4.5 cm
Flow: Calm
Swims: Top and mid-water
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Omnivore
Group: 6+
Typical price: $3–6
Rarity: Pet-store staple

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Tank mates

Checked against a roomy 300 L planted tank with low flow and plenty of caves. Your own tank may change the answer: try it in Your tanks.

Good together

Keep apart

Will eat the golden pencilfish

Angelfish
Aggressive and will eat the golden pencilfish

Oscar
Want fast, strong current

Angelicus L136 Big white spot L142 Blue phantom L128 Butterfly hillstream loach Colombian zebra L129 Dwarf snowball L471

In the hobby

In stock now

Not in stock at any store we track.

Tanks with this fish

Demo Amazon blackwater community Save the Little Fish demo · 37 fish, 5 kinds

From keepers

Notes appear here when a keeper shares a tank with this fish and writes about it.

Questions keepers ask

How big does a Golden pencilfish get?

About 4.5 cm (1.8 in) as an adult.

What temperature does a Golden pencilfish need?

24–28 °C (75–82 °F).

What pH does a Golden pencilfish need?

pH 5.5–7.5.

Does a Golden pencilfish need to be kept in a group?

Yes. Keep at least 6.

Is the Golden pencilfish aggressive?

No. It is peaceful with fish that suit the same water.

What does a Golden pencilfish eat?

It eats most foods: flakes, small pellets and frozen foods.

Where does the Golden pencilfish come from?

Amazon basin and the Guianas.

What fish can live with a Golden pencilfish?

Good tank mates include Candy stripe (L015), Leopard frog (L134), Amano shrimp, Boeseman's rainbowfish, Bolivian ram.

All the numbers

Temperature min (°C)	24	Estimate
Temperature max (°C)	28	Estimate
pH min	5.5	Estimate
pH max	7.5	Estimate
Adult size (cm)	4.5	Estimate
Flow	Low	Estimate
Habitat	blackwater	Estimate
Smallest happy group	6	Estimate
Temperament	Peaceful	Estimate
Diet	Omnivore	Estimate
Typical price min (CAD)	3	Estimate
Typical price max (CAD)	6	Estimate

Some values are estimates from typical hobby ranges and haven't been checked against a source yet.