Remarks: Beckford's pencilfish (Nannostomus beckfordi) are small tetras from South America. The name Nannostomus means "small mouth" and refers to their tiny mouths - making them an excellent dither fish as they cannot eat newly hatched fry. While some Pencilfish swim at an angle, these swim horizontally and spend a large amount of time flaring at each other. Males will develop deeper red and black colors when courting females. Because of the shy nature of Pencilfish, it is best to keep them in groups of at least 6.

Scientific Name: Nannostomus beckfordi

Common Name: Beckford's Pencilfish

Max Size: 1.5"

pH: 5.0-7

Hardness: Soft

Temperature: 70-82°

Aggressiveness: Peaceful

Region of Origin: South America

Captive Bred or Wild: Wild Caught and Captive Bred

Diet: Small flake or pellet, small frozen or live foods