Red Pencilfish

The red pencilfish is a selectively bred line of Nannostomus beckfordi, a small South American characin from the Guianas and the lower Amazon. The body is a slim, cigar-shaped gold-brown with a dark stripe from snout to tail, and the red line has been bred for a strong red-orange wash over the lower body and into the fins. Like other pencilfish it hangs at a slight nose-up angle and swims in short, precise movements rather than continuous motion.

Aquarium care

• Reaches around 4 cm.
• Peaceful, though males display and chase within the group.
• Keep eight or more.
• Prefers soft, slightly acidic water with dense planting and subdued light.
• Feeds in the upper and middle levels and has a small mouth.
• Micro pellets, crushed flake, frozen daphnia and baby brine shrimp.
• Colour fades at night and returns in the morning; this is normal.

Excellent in a planted South American tank with corydoras, small rasboras, ember tetras and dwarf cichlids. Calm enough to keep with adult shrimp.

Stock rotates with each shipment, and livestock is sold for local pickup at our Lethbridge store. See more in assorted and interesting.