Golden pencilfish
Nannostomus beckfordi
A slim pencilfish with a gold and red stripe that hovers near the surface; peaceful and a good match for dwarf cichlid tanks.
Key facts
- Body length
- 2.6 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 13 gallons
- Group
- 10+
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Care level
- 1 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Micro pellets, frozen daphnia, baby brine shrimp
- Origin
- South America
- Hardier than95%
- Bigger than39%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Golden pencilfish tank mates
- Neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Harlequin rasboraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Fancy guppyGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Panda corydorasGets along in shared water.Good mates
- OtocinclusGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cherry shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- BettaGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Amano shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black widow tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blood parrot cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bristlenose plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- AngelfishAngelfish eats small fish: Golden pencilfish.Risky
- Tiger barbTiger barb nips fins; Golden pencilfish is vulnerable (slow swimmer). Risk is reduced: the group is at least the recommended size.Risky
- Chinese algae eaterChinese algae eater attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Golden pencilfish.Risky
- Clown loachClown loach attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Golden pencilfish.Risky
- DemasoniDemasoni attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Golden pencilfish.Risky
- Firemouth cichlidFiremouth cichlid can eat young or small Golden pencilfish; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Blue dolphin cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Golden pencilfish: prey body depth 1.4 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- Convict cichlidConvict cichlid can eat Golden pencilfish: prey body depth 1.4 cm ≤ mouth 3.8 cm.Avoid
- Iridescent sharkIridescent shark can eat Golden pencilfish: prey body depth 1.4 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.Avoid
- Jewel cichlidJewel cichlid can eat Golden pencilfish: prey body depth 1.4 cm ≤ mouth 3.8 cm.Avoid
- OscarOscar can eat Golden pencilfish: prey body depth 1.4 cm ≤ mouth 12.3 cm.Avoid
- SeverumSeverum can eat Golden pencilfish: prey body depth 1.4 cm ≤ mouth 5.0 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for golden pencilfish: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 6.5 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 4.10 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 1.98 BU
- Min. water
- 41 L net
- Min. footprint
- 45 × 30 cm per group
- Group
- 10+ (best 10)
- Swims in
- top, middle
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- fusiform, normal fins
- Diet type
- micropredator
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- —
Sources: Seriously Fish: Nannostomus beckfordi · FishBase: Nannostomus beckfordi
Care notes
Golden pencilfish come from South America and move slowly and deliberately in the upper and middle water. Males spar with each other when several share a tank.
Keep a group of ten in a 10 gallon tank or larger with gentle filtration, and offer small live or frozen foods. Give more room if you keep several males, and avoid slow surface fish such as hatchetfish in small tanks.
Questions
What size tank does a golden pencilfish need?
At least 13 gallons (41 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 2.6 inches without fins.
How many golden pencilfish should be kept together?
Keep at least 10, ideally 10 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do golden pencilfish need?
75–79 °F, pH 6–8 and 1–15 dGH. Golden pencilfish come from South America.
How long do golden pencilfish live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with golden pencilfish?
Good tank mates include Neon tetra, Harlequin rasbora, Fancy guppy, Panda corydoras and Otocinclus. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.