{"product_id":"beckford-s-pencil-fish-nannostomus-beckfordi","title":"Beckford's Pencil Fish | Nannostomus beckfordi","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eBeckford's Pencilfish, also called the Golden Pencilfish, is a slim, peaceful little torpedo striped in gold and red, hovering at a jaunty angle in the upper half of the tank. A gentle nano shoaler with subtle, glowing colour, it reaches only around 4–5 cm and looks its best in a group in a soft, planted aquarium.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eNannostomus beckfordi is widespread through the lower Amazon basin, the Rio Negro and the coastal drainages of the Guianas, where it lives among vegetation and leaf litter in soft, warm, often tannin-stained forest waters. A planted tank with driftwood, some shade, gentle flow and a dark substrate recreates its home and brings out its colour.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA slender, torpedo-shaped fish with a golden body crossed by a bold dark horizontal stripe and flushes of red in the fins, brightest in displaying males. Females are rounder and a little plainer. Colour intensifies dramatically at feeding and display time, and males take on rich reds when courting in a settled group.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003ePeaceful, gentle and slow-moving, best kept in a group of eight or more, where males display harmlessly to one another and colour up beautifully. It suits a calm, planted community of small, non-boisterous fish. Fast, greedy or larger tankmates will outcompete it for food, so choose equally gentle companions.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA micro-omnivore with a small mouth that needs small foods: quality micro pellets, crushed flake, and small frozen and live foods such as daphnia, cyclops, micro worms and baby brine shrimp. Feed small amounts a couple of times a day, and make sure this slow, delicate feeder gets its share.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum of around 40 L, with 60 L or larger better for a good shoal. Keep temperature at 24–28 °C, pH 5.5–7.5 and soft to moderately soft water, around GH 2–12. Provide dense planting, driftwood, some shade and a gentle current, with a secure lid. It is peaceful, hardy for a nano fish and completely plant safe.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAn egg-scatterer that will spawn among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops in soft, slightly acidic water. The adults readily eat their own eggs, so a separate breeding tank with dense cover or a mesh protects the spawn. Fry hatch in a couple of days and are raised on infusoria and micro foods before taking baby brine shrimp.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003ctable\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNannostomus beckfordi\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeckford's (Golden) Pencilfish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLower Amazon, Rio Negro and the Guianas\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 4–5 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–5 years with good care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful (schooling)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e60 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore (micro): micro pellets, crushed flake, small frozen and live foods\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5.5–7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoft to moderate, around 2–12 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoft-water planted and nano community aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003c\/table\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include other small peaceful fish such as small tetras, rasboras, other pencilfish, corydoras, dwarf shrimp and gentle dwarf cichlids.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with large or boisterous fish, fin-nippers, fast greedy feeders, and anything big enough to eat a small pencilfish. Avoid keeping it in small numbers, which dulls its colour and confidence.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232883032355,"sku":"AA2020","price":7.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/beckford-s-pencil-fish-nanno-43091604865315-lv.webp?v=1790307186","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/beckford-s-pencil-fish-nannostomus-beckfordi","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}