Beckford Pencilfish — a Lebiasinidae from 南美洲, peaceful but shy in bare or bright tanks. Reaches 4.9–7.2 cm; shoaling; 8–10+ unlocks full colour and calm. 24–26 °C.
Care parameters
Water temperature
24–26 °C
pH
6–8
GH hardness
5–19 dGH
Adult length
4.9–7.2 cm
Minimum tank
62 L
Water layer
Bottom-dwelling
Difficulty
Moderate
Temperament
Peaceful but shy in bare or bright tanks
Origin
南美洲
Species overview
Nannostomus beckfordi is a Lebiasinidae from 南美洲. Its colours are honest signalling: pale, scattered fish are telling you something is wrong. It lives on the bottom. Adults reach 4.9–7.2 cm. Shoaling; 8–10+ unlocks full colour and calm. Keep a proper school, dim the glare, and feed small foods several times a day. Maintain 24–26 °C at pH 6–8. A solid choice for a well-planned community tank.
Native biotope
Habitat
Warm freshwater streams and lakes
Flow
Still to gentle current
Dissolved O₂
Moderate oxygen levels
Aquascape & hardware
Substrate
Fine sand and gravel
Hardscape
Driftwood and smooth stones
Plants
Hardy common aquarium plants
Temperament, diet & tankmates
Schooling
Shoaling; 8–10+ unlocks full colour and calm
Diet
Unfussy; a varied small diet preserves colour
Recommended tankmates
Small Corydoras — Share the lower water peacefully
Avoid keeping with
Large or predatory fish — Tetras are snacks
Breeding & notes
Sexual dimorphism
Subtle external differences
Breeding method
Scatters eggs among plants; light-proof the setup or add mops