Care guide at a glance
Nannostomus beckfordi
Description
A slim, torpedo-shaped pencilfish with a dark lateral stripe and red-flushed fins, the colour deepening markedly on displaying males. Peaceful and beautifully understated.
Feeding
Small foods only. The mouth is tiny. Powdered flake, crushed micro-pellets, frozen cyclops and baby brine shrimp.
Compatibility
Peaceful and easily outcompeted. Keep in groups of eight or more with other small, calm species. Avoid fast greedy feeders.
Behaviour and personality
Hangs almost motionless in mid-water, then moves in short darts. Males spar with one another in brief harmless displays.
Before you buy
Adopts a completely different night pattern of blotches rather than a stripe, which alarms people who see it after lights out. It is entirely normal.
Livestock Delivery
DX courier delivery is £29.95 per livestock order.
Free delivery when your livestock subtotal is over £350.
Delivery is scheduled for your selected delivery date and typically arrives before 1pm.
There is no minimum order value.
Additional information:
- In-stock livestock orders will be processed and dispatched for delivery on the date selected on the cart/basket page.
- Available delivery days are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
- If any stock issues affect your chosen delivery date, we will contact you as soon as possible by email or telephone.
- Shipping for dry goods is charged separately from livestock delivery and does not count towards the £350 free delivery threshold. Dry goods are dispatched according to our standard delivery policy.

