Golden Pencilfish 3.5cm

Golden Pencil fish

The golden pencil fish is a fantastic species for aquarists who are searching for unique, vibrant, and wild-looking fish for their nano biotopes or planted aquarium. These pencil fish will very much have a niche following and will be better suited for experienced aquarists. They are however very easy to care for once they settle in and will make for a great schooling nano fish that only reaches around 4 cm in length.

Golden pencil fish is one of the most vibrant of the pencil fish species only coming second to the coveted red coral pencil fish. These fish are quite thin and long hence the resemblance to a pencil, they have very small mouths and tend to remain quite stationary with small movements just to keep them hovering. The nape of the pencil fish is cream colour which is paralleled by a dark, navy blue lateral line. For some additional contrast, the golden pencil fish have bright flashes of red on all of the fins and underbelly of the fish. Whilst the red is more pronounced the rest of the body has a very mild golden sheen hence their name. 

Pencil fish aren’t bred too regularly in the home aquarium, their niche demand compared to other nano fish species and harder breeding requirements do not make them too appealing. These fish usually require a low PH and certain environmental triggers for them to begin breeding. Though this can be replicated in the home aquarium, it can be quite hard to nail and get the trigger for spawning. These are egg-scattering fish that won’t show any parental care either but the ideal breeding setup would be a small aquarium with dense plants and botanicals to ensure a low PH and plant cover for the fry. The fry should be fed rotifers or liquid meals until they can survive on their own because they are extremely small. This challenge of rearing up the fry makes this fish a fun breeding project to consider. 

Tank Recommendations for your Golden Pencil Fish 

A small group of gold pencil fish only requires a tank of 40 litres. This ensures that there’s ample space for around 5 pencil fish which will make them feel most comfortable. In the wild, pencil fish come from slow-moving, shallow waters that are dense with botanicals and plants. Though they will do fine in a high-tech planted aquarium, it is best that the required water parameters these fish need are met. These pencil fish are not too fussed on hardscape and but a tight-fitting lid will be a requirement since they can jump.

Suitable Tank Buddies

Golden pencil fish are very slow-moving and would do best being kept alone or with equally nano tank mates. These fish have very small mouths and ensuring they are properly fed when other tank mates are present can be a challenge. 

Usually Compatible

Celestial pearl danios, peacock gudgeons, emerald Raspboras, and similar species nano species. 

Sometimes Compatible

Apistogramma, rams, and other territorial fish that may show minimal but long-term aggression to the sensitive-natured pencil fish. 

Rarely Compatible

Predatory South American cichlids and African cichlids will for sure make a meal out of the pencil fish.  

Feeding your Golden Pencil Fish 

Golden pencil fish should take to foods quite easily however they require incredibly small foods. Their mouth is best shaped to eat small works and their diet can easily consist of a nano pellet or flake along with white worms, microworms, and even black worms.