Golden Pencilfish

Nannostomus espei, commonly known as the Golden or Barred Pencilfish, hails from the Orinoco drainage of Venezuela. It is recognised by its warm golden-amber body colour and a series of short oblique dark bars below the lateral line, giving a subtle ladder-like pattern. Compared to many Nannostomus, its markings are understated, allowing the golden iridescence of the body to take centre stage.

This species is peaceful and well-suited to community nano aquariums with other soft-water species. It spends most of its time in the middle and lower-middle water column, browsing among plant stems and leaf litter for tiny food items. Groups of eight or more exhibit interesting social behaviour without aggression.

Feeding is easy; it accepts micro-pellets, crushed flake, and frozen foods willingly. Supplementing with live baby brine shrimp and micro-worms on a regular basis improves condition and colouration considerably.

Water: 23–28°C, pH 5.0–7.0, soft (GH 1–10, KH 0–5); blackwater conditions enhance gold colouration. Tank: 60 L minimum; planted tank with leaf litter, gentle flow, subdued lighting. Feeding: Micro-pellets, crushed flake, baby brine shrimp, micro-worms, daphnia. Breeding: Egg-scatterer among fine plants; condition pair on live foods; remove after spawning. Compatibility: Peaceful with small tetras, nano rasboras, dwarf shrimp, and corydoras.