All fish / Lebiasinidae

Shining Pencilfish

Nannostomus nitidus

Also known as shining pencil fish, nitidus pencilfish, pencilfish, ニティドゥス・ペンシル, 闪光铅笔鱼

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A slim little pencilfish with a golden brown body and a dark stripe running from snout to tail, edged by a thinner upper line and red marks on the fins of males. It is kept for its quiet behaviour and soft colours in planted, dimly lit South American biotope tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

3.5 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

5 to 7

Smallest tank

45 litres

Keep as

Group of 8 or more

Diet

Omnivore: small live and frozen foods such as daphnia, cyclops and baby brine shrimp, plus fine flake

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lower Amazon basin, Brazil (Pará), and coastal rivers of French Guiana

Breeding

It scatters eggs among fine plants and gives no parental care, and adults will eat the eggs. Breeding in soft, acidic water with fine-leaved plants or a spawning mesh is possible, but the tiny fry need infusoria at first.

Good to know

Its small mouth and shy nature mean it does poorly with boisterous or large tankmates. It is often confused with Nannostomus beckfordi and N. eques in the trade.