Nannostomus beckfordi “Red Beckford’s Pencilfish”

A charming small Characin, the Red Beckford’s Pencilfish, Nannostomus beckfordi, makes an interesting choice for planted tanks. Size reports vary, putting them maxing out anywhere between 1-2″+. Males are more colorful, and will spar and display when kept in groups.

Some people think of this species as aggressive, and to be fair, yes, they can be nippy with each other. But it is largely bluster. The group currently housed here shares an aquarium with a large number of Black Neon Tetras, and they mix right into the school really well, and perhaps keeping them with other schooling fishes can help diffuse aggression. They readily eat any foods offered.