Dwarf pencilfish
Nannostomus marginatus
- Tank length
- 12 cm5 in
- Group
- 8+
- Temperature
- 24–26 °C75–79 °F
- pH
- 5.8–7.5
- Adult size
- 3 cm1 in
- Lifespan
- 3–5 yrs
Tiny, slightly shy shoaler with a small mouth; keep a group among plants with calm tankmates and fine foods.Tiny, slightly shy shoaler with a small mouth; keep a group among plants with calm tankmates and fine foods.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Acei cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- African clawed frog
African clawed frog may eat Dwarf pencilfishAfrican clawed frog may eat Dwarf pencilfish
- Brevis shell dweller
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Caudopunctatus
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Irian Jaya rainbowfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Multies
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Pindani
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Rusty cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Saulosi cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Similis shell dweller
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Abei puffer
Abei puffer may eat Dwarf pencilfishAbei puffer may eat Dwarf pencilfish
- Afra cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 24–26 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.8–7.5 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 5–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Origin | Guyana, Suriname and the Amazon basin | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | middle | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | peaceful | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 8 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | omnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 3–5 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 6 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |