Golden Pencil Tetra

Golden Pencil Tetra: If common tetras aren’t your thing, Pencilfish could be a great substitute for a schooling community fish. 

Golden Pencil Tetra is a schooling community fish known as the Red Beckford’s Pencilfish (Nannostomus Beckford var. “Red”). 

It is one of the most sought-after freshwater nano and planted aquarium fish because of its diminutive size, vivid color, and relative rarity.

It can frequently be spotted swimming and feeding in the middle and bottom levels of the water column as well, the Red Beckford’s Pencilfish mainly inhabits the top and middle levels of the water column. It is secure among calm, little fish.

Although adult Golden Pencil Tetra may consume little dwarf shrimp and their young, adult dwarf shrimp are typically safe as well. Larger, calmer invertebrates can be beneficial tank mates as well. Keep Red Beckford’s Pencilfish in groups of six or more. 

II. You would love the fish because…

Golden Pencil Tetra is quite an active swimmer and it will swim mostly on the top of the aquarium. If it sees an opportunity, it will try to jump so it is a must to cover the fish tank.

A Golden Pencilfish is a slim, torpedo-shaped fish that typically grows to a length of 1 to 1.5 inches, while some sources claim they can occasionally reach 2 inches. Amazingly, depending on its native population, Golden Pencilfish can appear in a variety of forms. 

A normal captive-bred animal, on the other hand, will have a black lateral line from the mouth to the beginning of the caudal fin. There are two thin, lengthy streaks of crimson that normally develop stronger as they approach the caudal tail.

A thin, golden line that runs from the mouth to the tail is moreover frequently present between the top red line and the bottom black line. 

The top of the fish’s body typically has a delicate tan color.

Fins are typically translucent, but when the light hits them just so, they shimmer. The majority of wild specimens have this shape, while some do have different color locations or ratios. In either case, it is understood that these wild populations are equivalent to N. beckfordi.

Depending on the circumstance, if the Golden Pencilfish’s color has faded, this is typically a natural behavior. Pencilfish that have recently been introduced to a new area may be uninteresting for a few days until they get used to it.

III. Is this fish species peaceful or hostile?

Golden Pencil Tetras are peaceful fish.

IV. Species compatibility

Tetras, Rasboras, Killifish, and Danios. However, Anostomus sp.

V. How to feed this species?

Flakes, freeze-dried, and frozen foods. Foods in the form of micro-pellets are acceptable, as are any flakes of high quality that have been broken up into small bits. Fresh or frozen brine shrimp are both accepted.