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Fisheasy

Pencilfish

Nannostomus beckfordi

Lebiasinidae

📍 South America

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A slender, torpedo-shaped nano fish with a bold golden-red lateral stripe. Peaceful and elegant, pencilfish school tightly and display fascinating day-to-night colour changes. Ideal for blackwater or heavily planted community tanks.

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Quick Facts

diet
Omnivore – micro pellets, crushed flake, frozen daphnia
lifespan
3–5 years
max size
6.5 cm (2.5 in)
tank size
10 gallons minimum
school size
8+
temperament
Peaceful, schooling

Water it likes

ph
5.5–7.0
ammonia
0 ppm
nitrate
<20 ppm
hardness
1–12 dGH
temperature
72–82°F (22–28°C)

Stats

Community tips0
Kept by0 hobbyists