Imported
Golden Pencilfish
Nannostomus beckfordi
Native Location: Brazil, Guyana, French Guiana and Orinoco River in Venezuela
Climate: Tropical
Maximum Size: 35mm
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Breeding: Moderate
Temperature Range: 21-27℃ (69.8-80.6℉)
Preferred pH Range: 5.0-8.0
Minimum Aquarium Size: 45cm x 30cm but for multiple males, larger aquarium is advised.
Potential Apistogramma and other peaceful Dwarf Cichlids, Rasbora or peaceful barbs.
Care Level: Easy
If you are looking for an alternative to the normal Tetra species, the Golden Pencil fish are a solid choice. Compatible in loose shoals and generally remaining in the upper area of the aquarium, they also do very well in a dwarf Cichlid aquarium. The perfect aquarium for these little fish would be a heavily planted system with the addition of floating plants for extra cover.
In their natural habitat, the Golden Pencilfish will hunt for tiny crustaceans, inverts and zooplankton amongst the aquatic vegetation. A diet easily supported in the home aquarium by offering small amounts of Artemia, grindal worms alongside a high protein based crushed flake food or micro pellets.
Although commonly used as a dither fish in Dwarf Cichlid breeding setups, they are fairly easy to breed on their own. Being a natural egg scatterer, the fertilised eggs will fall down and land among any plants or substrate on the bottom. It is even possible to begin to see some small fry appear over time in a mature aquarium with lots of micro organisms available for fry to eat. To increase the survival rate, a breeding aquarium can be set up using mesh or a larger gravel on the base to allow eggs to fall between and remain safe until large enough fry can emerge.
The Golden Pencilfish are small but have a lot to offer. If you are considering adding them to your aquarium, add as many as possible. When kept in larger numbers, confidence will grow and you will experience a far more naturally happy fish.
All our fish are quarantined on arrival for two weeks. During this time, they are treated for any possible diseases and given a complete health check to make sure they are health, happy and eating well before being placed in our display aquariums, ready for sale.
Dead on Arrival (DOA) Policy: In the unfortunate event that your fish arrives dead, please follow these steps: Within 12 hours of the delivery, take clear, unopened bag pictures showing the deceased fish. Send these photographs and your order number to our customer service email at getfish@thefishroom.co.nz or to our Facebook page and we will then offer a refund or store credit for the cost of the fish.
Two-Week Guarantee Policy: We stand behind the health and quality of our fish, which is why we offer a two-week guarantee starting from the day of delivery. If your fish dies within this time frame, adhere to the following procedure: Take clear photos of the deceased fish. Using a reliable test kit, document via a dated photo, water parameters (pH, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite levels). Please email us the photographs, water parameters, and order number to getfish@thefishroom.co.nz or our Facebook page. After reviewing your claim, if approved, we will issue a store credit for the cost of the fish. Our two-week guarantee does not cover fish deaths due to unsuitable water conditions, incompatible tank mates or “disasters” i.e. a heater overheating. We recommend thoroughly researching each fish species' needs before introducing them to your aquarium to prevent such situations.
Freight Charges: Please note that shipping or freight charges are non-refundable under all circumstances. We hope this guide makes our refund and guarantee process more understandable. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please get in touch with us at getfish@thefishroom.co.nz. We are always happy to assist. Thank you for choosing The Fish Room. Happy fish keeping!
