I kept some halfbeaks(Nor) before, and I'm itching to keep them again. Do you think they can live in a thirty gallon tank, planted with vallis, hronwort, Java moss and fern, with 4 Julidochromis transcriptus and 4 altolamprologus compresseps Sumbu Shell?

Thanks in advance, I really want halfbeaks!

Ted

Personally I'll avoid it my self, thats coz i try to maintain one species per tank.

The combination you suggest could work, with one proviso: water chemistry. Many of the halfbeaks sold prefer soft and acidic water conditions, and at the very least such conditions are useful for getting them to breed (e.g. Nomorhamphus liemi). On the other hand, Dermogenys spp. halfbeaks are pretty indifferent to water chemistry and will thrive in hard, alkaline water.

I've routinely mixed halfbeaks with West African and South American dwarf cichlids and provided the water depth is sufficient, the halfbeaks are ignored. In fact, they make excellent dither fish because they stay out in the open and at the top of the tank. I haven't kept either of the cichlids you mention, so I'll have to let you decide whether their level of aggression is amenable to a community tank setting. If they are basically peaceful, then the halfbeaks will be fine.

Do try and keep the top of the tank fairly uncluttered. While a few plant leaves or floating plants is fine, and the fry especially like floating plants, adult halfbeaks actually prefer open spaces because they are built for speed not agility.

Cheers, Neale

I used to keep min with apple snails in fairly hard water, and they bred fine(over 30!). But I was a complete idiot at that time, spending more time on games instead of studying and fishkeeping. Needless to say, I regret it.

I'll try it, and post later what happens. As I have another big tank spacious enough to house the cichlids, the halfbeaks WILL survive.

Ted

I know that 100% the comps will be fine, but the julies I will experiment.

I'll can the fish store and see if they can order them.