Beckford's Red Pencil Fish (Nannostomus beckfordi)
Delicate, colorful, and full of charm, the Beckford's Red Pencil Fish is a striking nano species that adds elegance and motion to any peaceful aquarium. Native to the slow-moving waters of South America, this slender beauty features a glowing red body with a bold horizontal black stripe, giving it the look of a living pencil gliding through the water.
Key Features:
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Scientific Name: Nannostomus beckfordi
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Common Names: Beckford's Pencil Fish, Red Pencil Fish
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Origin: Amazon Basin – Brazil, Guyana, Suriname
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Temperament: Peaceful
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Adult Size: Up to 2 inches
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Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons (larger preferred for schools)
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Water Parameters:
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Temperature: 72–82°F
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pH: 6.0–7.5
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Soft to slightly hard water
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Diet: Omnivorous – enjoys micro pellets, flakes, and live/frozen foods like daphnia or baby brine shrimp
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Tank Level: Upper to mid-level swimmer
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Behavior: Calm and schooling; best kept in groups of 6 or more
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Ideal Setup: Heavily planted tanks with gentle flow and dim lighting; tannin-rich or blackwater setups preferred for best coloration
Why Choose Beckford's Red Pencil Fish?
These eye-catching nano fish bring a refined, shimmering red hue to planted tanks and do especially well in community setups with other small, peaceful species. Their graceful movements and shoaling behavior add life and depth to aquascapes. Perfect for biotope-style aquariums or as a colorful highlight in nano communities.
Bring subtle elegance and natural beauty to your aquarium with the Beckford’s Red Pencil Fish — a perfect blend of color, grace, and serenity.
The Pencil Fish is a great fish to keep in an aquascaped aquarium. These fish are not normally seen in the fish hobby and make great additions to community fish tanks. They prefer softer and slightly acidic water.
Size is about 3/4" to an inch.
