Gold Pencilfish

About Gold Pencilfish

Gold Pencilfish are small, peaceful South American schooling fish known for their golden-yellow body, dark horizontal markings and elegant pencil-shaped profile. They are an excellent choice for planted aquariums and peaceful community setups.

Their slender body and subtle colouration make them particularly attractive when kept in a group. They tend to occupy the upper and middle levels of the aquarium, often hovering among plants and hardscape rather than constantly swimming through open water.

Gold Pencilfish appreciate densely planted aquariums with floating plants and subdued lighting. Providing plenty of cover helps them feel secure and encourages more natural behaviour.

They are peaceful but can display mild hierarchy and sparring behaviour between males. Keeping a group with plenty of visual barriers allows these interactions to occur naturally without becoming problematic.

Quick Care Guide

Scientific Name: Nannostomus beckfordi
Common Name: Gold Pencilfish / Beckford's Pencilfish
Family: Lebiasinidae
Type: Freshwater Schooling Fish
Adult Size: Approximately 4–5 cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Care Level: Easy to Intermediate
Minimum Group: 6+
Temperature: 23–28°C
pH: 5.5–7.5
Water Hardness: Soft to Moderately Soft
Diet: Omnivore / Micro-predator
Tank Level: Upper to Midwater
Suitable For: Planted aquariums, community tanks, blackwater setups and peaceful tropical aquariums

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Gold Pencilfish should I keep?

Keep them in a group of at least 6, although larger groups are preferable and allow more natural social behaviour.

Are Gold Pencilfish peaceful?

Yes. They are peaceful community fish and are well suited to aquariums containing other small, non-aggressive species.

What do Gold Pencilfish eat?

They have relatively small mouths and appreciate small foods such as micro pellets, finely crushed flakes, baby brine shrimp, daphnia and other appropriately sized frozen or live foods.

Do Gold Pencilfish need a planted aquarium?

They don't strictly require live plants, but dense vegetation and floating plants provide excellent cover and help them feel secure.

Can Gold Pencilfish live with shrimp?

Yes, they can generally be kept with adult freshwater shrimp. However, they may eat very small shrimplets if they encounter them.

Common Mistakes

Keeping too few fish
Pencilfish are social and display much more natural behaviour when maintained in a proper group.

Using very bright lighting without cover
Floating plants and shaded areas help create a more comfortable environment.

Keeping them with large or aggressive fish
Their small size and peaceful nature make them unsuitable for aggressive community tanks.

Feeding food that is too large
Use appropriately sized micro foods because of their small mouths.

Keeping the aquarium too bare
Plants, driftwood and other visual barriers provide security and encourage natural behaviour.

About Gold Pencilfish

Gold Pencilfish are small, peaceful South American schooling fish known for their golden-yellow body, dark horizontal markings and elegant pencil-shaped profile. They are an excellent choice for planted aquariums and peaceful community setups.

Their slender body and subtle colouration make them particularly attractive when kept in a group. They tend to occupy the upper and middle levels of the aquarium, often hovering among plants and hardscape rather than constantly swimming through open water.

Gold Pencilfish appreciate densely planted aquariums with floating plants and subdued lighting. Providing plenty of cover helps them feel secure and encourages more natural behaviour.

They are peaceful but can display mild hierarchy and sparring behaviour between males. Keeping a group with plenty of visual barriers allows these interactions to occur naturally without becoming problematic.

Quick Care Guide

Scientific Name: Nannostomus beckfordi
Common Name: Gold Pencilfish / Beckford's Pencilfish
Family: Lebiasinidae
Type: Freshwater Schooling Fish
Adult Size: Approximately 4–5 cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Care Level: Easy to Intermediate
Minimum Group: 6+
Temperature: 23–28°C
pH: 5.5–7.5
Water Hardness: Soft to Moderately Soft
Diet: Omnivore / Micro-predator
Tank Level: Upper to Midwater
Suitable For: Planted aquariums, community tanks, blackwater setups and peaceful tropical aquariums

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Gold Pencilfish should I keep?

Keep them in a group of at least 6, although larger groups are preferable and allow more natural social behaviour.

Are Gold Pencilfish peaceful?

Yes. They are peaceful community fish and are well suited to aquariums containing other small, non-aggressive species.

What do Gold Pencilfish eat?

They have relatively small mouths and appreciate small foods such as micro pellets, finely crushed flakes, baby brine shrimp, daphnia and other appropriately sized frozen or live foods.

Do Gold Pencilfish need a planted aquarium?

They don't strictly require live plants, but dense vegetation and floating plants provide excellent cover and help them feel secure.

Can Gold Pencilfish live with shrimp?

Yes, they can generally be kept with adult freshwater shrimp. However, they may eat very small shrimplets if they encounter them.

Common Mistakes

Keeping too few fish
Pencilfish are social and display much more natural behaviour when maintained in a proper group.

Using very bright lighting without cover
Floating plants and shaded areas help create a more comfortable environment.

Keeping them with large or aggressive fish
Their small size and peaceful nature make them unsuitable for aggressive community tanks.

Feeding food that is too large
Use appropriately sized micro foods because of their small mouths.

Keeping the aquarium too bare
Plants, driftwood and other visual barriers provide security and encourage natural behaviour.