Also known as Pencilfish tetra, Golden Banded tetra, and Long-Banded tetra, a peaceful small fish where full grown adult males exhibit shades of red whereas the female is muted in comparison. This subtle yet attractive fish has the ability of changing its color, appearing different during the night compared to its coloration during the day time.

The Pencilfish prefers to be in a group of 10 in an aquarium with hiding spaces where their interactive behavior becomes most noticeable. Males can be territorial but can cause no harm to their tank mates and it’s safe to keep multiple males in the same tank.

For the best color development in males we recommend selecting a premium diet that is designed to boost the fish colors naturally which can be found in our dry food section. Contact us for assistance in selecting the best food options for this species.

Note: This fish is often mistaken for Nannostomus mortenthaleri, a similar species which has different markings and appearance.