Dwarf Pencilfish

Dwarf Pencilfish (Nannostomus Marginatus)

The Dwarf Pencilfish is a small, elegant freshwater fish characterized by its slender, elongated body and striking horizontal stripes. They display a subtle mix of colors with a golden hue along the body and a vibrant red stripe running from the snout to the tail.

Dwarf Pencilfish are peaceful and shy in nature, making them a delightful addition to peaceful community aquariums. Growing up to 1.4 inches. During the day, it is common for male Dwarf Pencilfish to engage in friendly competition, which can sometimes result in nipped fins within the group. However, this behavior typically doesn't extend to other tankmates. Keeping at least 10 or more Dwarf Pencilfish together is recommended, as larger groups help disperse aggression and encourage the fish to exhibit bolder and more natural behaviors.
Dwarf Pencilfish are well-suited for community tanks with other peaceful, small fish such as tetras, rasboras, and small catfish.

These fish also make excellent dither fish for Apistogramma species and other dwarf cichlids, as they typically occupy the middle-to-upper regions of the tank and do not prey on fry.

Their diet consists of small live or frozen foods such as brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworms, and high-quality micro pellets or flake foods.

To create a comfortable habitat for Pencilfish, provide a well-planted aquarium with a dark substrate with subdued lighting to enhance their colors. Include hiding spots using driftwood, rocks, cavies, and plenty of live plants to mimic their natural environment. Pencilfish tends to swim in the middle and top regions of the tank; the addition of floating plants offers an additional sense of security and diffuse light. Pencilfish also requires a spacious aquarium, and their décor arranged to create plenty of broken lines-of-sight to reduce aggression between males.

A minimum aquarium size of 10 gallons is recommended, with an ideal community aquarium size of 20 gallons or more. Dwarf Pencilfish thrive in water conditions with a pH of 5.0-7.0, hardness of 1-12 dGH, and a temperature range of 73-82°F (23-28°C).

A well-fitting tank cover is also necessary, as Dwarf Pencilfish may jump when startled.
Introduce these fish into a mature, stable aquarium environment to ensure their health and well-being.