Pencilfish care

Water temperature

75–82°F

Pencilfish do best at 75–82°F and pH 5–7.5. Plan on 15 gallons or more. Good tank mates include bettas, kuhli loaches, guppies.

Small mouth, quiet manners. Struggles with boisterous eaters.

Nannostomus beckfordi

pH

5–7.5

Minimum tank

15 gal

Adult size

2.0 in

Temperament

Peaceful

Group

Groups of 6+

Lifespan

5–6 years

Swims at

Middle

Diet

Omnivore

Best tank mates

• BettaYes
• Kuhli loachYes
• GuppyYes
• Honey gouramiYes
• AngelfishYes
• Sparkling gouramiYes
• CorydorasYes
• ApistogrammaYes
• Yoyo loachYes
• Dwarf gouramiYes
• Mystery snailYes
• Blue gouramiYes

Full pencilfish tank mate chart: 63 yes, 21 with care, 14 no

Pencilfish water compared

Fish to keep away from pencilfish

• Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); pencilfish need 75–82°F. No temperature suits both.
• Oscar An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches pencilfish do.
• Convict cichlid Convict cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful pencilfish.
• Black ghost knife An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches pencilfish do.
• Bichir An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches pencilfish do.
• Goldfish Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); pencilfish need 75–82°F. No temperature suits both.
• Pictus catfish An adult pictus catfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches pencilfish do.
• Silver arowana An adult silver arowana eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches pencilfish do.

More tetras and characins

• Neon tetra72–79°F
• Ember tetra73–84°F
• Congo tetra73–82°F
• Rummy nose tetra75–84°F
• Cardinal tetra76–84°F
• Black skirt tetra70–80°F
• Serpae tetra72–79°F
• Silver dollar75–82°F