Golden pencilfish
Nannostomus beckfordi
- Adult size
- 4 cm2 in
- Group
- 6+
- Tank length
- 60 cm24 in
- Lifespan
- 3–6 yrs
- Temperature
- 24–26 °C75–79 °F
- pH
- 6–8
- Hardness
- 5–19 dGH
- Diet
- omnivore
Offer tiny foods at the surface and shelter between groups.Offer tiny foods at the surface and shelter between groups.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Irian Jaya rainbowfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- African knifefish
African knifefish may eat Golden pencilfishAfrican knifefish may eat Golden pencilfish
- African pike
African pike may eat Golden pencilfishAfrican pike may eat Golden pencilfish
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Golden pencilfishAlligator gar may eat Golden pencilfish
- Altum angelfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Antenna ray
Antenna ray may eat Golden pencilfishAntenna ray may eat Golden pencilfish
- Arapaima
Arapaima may eat Golden pencilfishArapaima may eat Golden pencilfish
- Arrowhead puffer
Arrowhead puffer may eat Golden pencilfishArrowhead puffer may eat Golden pencilfish
- Asian arowana
Asian arowana may eat Golden pencilfishAsian arowana may eat Golden pencilfish
- Asian upside-down catfish
Asian upside down catfish may eat Golden pencilfishAsian upside down catfish may eat Golden pencilfish
- Australian pearl arowana
Australian pearl arowana may eat Golden pencilfishAustralian pearl arowana may eat Golden pencilfish
- Barred bichir
Barred bichir may eat Golden pencilfishBarred bichir may eat Golden pencilfish
Sources
| temperature | 24–26 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
|---|---|---|
| ph | 6–8 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| gh | 5–19 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| origin | Tropical freshwater; regional origin needs review | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| notes | Offer tiny foods at the surface and shelter between groups. | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| beginner friendly | true | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| care level | easy | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| color palette | #C44B35, #313C41 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| activity | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| swim zone | top | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| temperament | peaceful | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| fin nipper | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| long finned | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| territorial | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling | true | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling min | 6 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| diet | omnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| lifespan years | 3–6 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| growth to adult months | 12 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| length weight | {"a":0.006,"b":3} | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| planted safe | true | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| min tank length | 60 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| body shape | rasbora | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |