Easy to moderate
Red Golden Pencilfish (Nannostomus beckfordi "Red")
23–28°C · pH 5.5–7.5 · 60L
£3.99
Elegant South American pencilfish for quiet planted aquariums, best kept in a group with gentle tank mates and fine foods.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Nannostomus trifasciatus
Three-Lined Pencilfish are a shoaling species — they need 6+ to feel safe and show their full colour. Larger shoals stay calmer, eat better, and look stunning.
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Elegant South American pencilfish for quiet planted aquariums, best kept in a group with gentle tank mates and fine foods.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
23–28°C · pH 5.5–7.5 · 60L
24–28°C · pH 4–7 · 60L
18–26°C · pH 6.5–8 · 30L
23–27°C · pH 7.4–8.4 · 1000L
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
Three-Lined Pencilfish (Nannostomus trifasciatus) is a slim South American characin with fine horizontal striping and a quiet, surface-oriented swimming style. It suits aquarists who want an elegant group fish for a planted or blackwater-style aquarium rather than a hectic community mix.
| Scientific name | Nannostomus trifasciatus |
|---|---|
| Adult size | 4-5 cm |
| Minimum aquarium | 80 litres or more for a group |
| Temperature | 24-28 C |
| pH | 5.5-7.0 |
| Temperament | Peaceful, shy shoaling fish |
| Diet | Fine dry, frozen and live foods |
Keep a group of eight or more in a mature aquarium with plants, floating cover and gentle flow. They show best colour when they feel secure, so avoid bright bare tanks and pushy tank mates.
Feed small flakes, micro pellets, daphnia, cyclops, brine shrimp and fine frozen foods. Their small mouths mean modest portions are better than large sinking foods.
Choose calm fish that enjoy similar water. Useful comparisons include Red Golden Pencilfish, Dwarf Pencilfish, Coral Red Pencilfish, Green Neon Tetra and Blackwing Hatchetfish.
Order when the tank is mature, calm and ready for a group. Livestock is packed for dispatch across the UK and sent by a licensed live-animal courier where live-animal shipping applies. Livestock orders are covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
For similar peaceful fish, compare Red Golden Pencilfish, Dwarf Pencilfish, Coral Red Pencilfish and Green Neon Tetra.
