Red Beckford Pencilfish

The beckford pencilfish, also known as the golden pencilfish, is the most prevalent fish of this family in the aquarium trade. These fish are easy to breed and quite hardy. Pencilfish get their common name because they look like small pencils, but it would be quite unpleasant to try to write with one.

The body of the beckford pencil is gold with a pencil-carbon-colored black band and red highlights on the fins.

Quick Facts

Care Guide

Tank setup: Give them a planted tank with floating plants, gentle filtration and a lid, since they can jump. Soft, slightly acidic water brings out their best color.

Feeding: Feed crushed flake or micro pellets once or twice a day, only as much as they eat in a couple of minutes. They also enjoy frozen brine shrimp.

Tankmates: Pencilfish are shy and peaceful, so keep them with other small, gentle fish such as small tetras, rasboras, pygmy corydoras and shrimp.

Good to know: At night, pencilfish change to a blotchy "night" pattern, which is normal.