Red Pencil Fish

Red Pencil Fish (Nannostomus beckfordi)

A colourful variant of Beckford's Pencilfish, the Red Pencil Fish features a slim, torpedo-shaped body with warm red and gold tones, especially vivid in males. Peaceful and interesting to watch, it's a great mid-water schooling fish for planted and community tanks.

Care at a Glance:

• Minimum Tank Size: 55L with plants and gentle flow
• Temperature: 24–28°C
• pH Range: 6.0–7.0
• Water Hardness: Soft to moderate
• Temperament: Peaceful, schooling, can be slightly nippy with own kind
• Diet: Micro-pellets, flakes, frozen daphnia and brine shrimp
• Max Size: 4–5cm
• Lifespan: 3–5 years
• Care Level: Easy

Tank Mates: Peaceful small community fish such as tetras, rasboras, corydoras, and shrimp; keep in groups of 6+.

Origin: South America — slow-moving streams (Guyana, Suriname, Brazil)