A call for information!

[Annastasia]

Hi everyone,

Toxis and I are doing a topic on hybridizing Livebearers, but we are also doing a little info on the 4 groups of Livebearers. So, we have 2 questions....

What's the best ratio for Four-eyed fish? I know only right females, can breed with left males, or right males with left females, but how do you stock them? In Pairs?

And, what's the best ration for Halfbeaks? 2-3 females per male, is what I have read, but I know some people on here have kept them, or keep them. Elisabeth, nmonks...how do you stock your's? Also, any info anyone can give on Halfbeaks would be greatly appreciated. I'm assuming, all Halfbeaks in the same genus can breed together, correct?

If anyone else has anything they think would be helpful, that'd be appreciated too.

Thanks!
Anna

 

[nmonks]

Anna,

First off, I think the idea of keeping X males to Y females is irrelant with halfbeaks. That makes sense with, say, mollies where you need to worry about females being harassed. Getting halfbeaks to breed isn't so easy, and the females are more than able to drive off a male if they want to!

What does matter is how many males there are in your tank. I have an 180 litre aquarium with lots of plants. There are three males. All the males fight, and one is definitely top dog, pushing the others into quiet corners a lot of the time. I'd say that in a tank smaller than this, only have 1 or 2 males. Then make up the rest of the school with females.

The females are almost as territorial. Some commented to me that halfbeaks are like cichlids: regardless of their sex or age, they want their own space. Overstock at your own risk.

I have no idea if halfbeak species interbreed. One of my females has produced a litter of 14 pups, and it's just possible mine are hybrids because I can't be sure my fish are all one species! I think they're all Nomorhamphus ebrardtii but the females of some species do look pretty similar. Halfbeaks are collected in the wild, lots of species live in the same area, and the collectors don't separate them out before shipping them.

I've added some general comments on halfbeaks to the Brackish Water Aquarium FAQ that you can read here. On my web site there are some pictures and movies as well. You'll see how much fun halfbeaks are!

Hope this helps,

Neale

And, what's the best ratio for Halfbeaks? 2-3 females per male, is what I have read, but I know some people on here have kept them, or keep them. Elisabeth, nmonks...how do you stock your's? Also, any info anyone can give on Halfbeaks would be greatly appreciated. I'm assuming, all Halfbeaks in the same genus can breed together, correct?

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[Elisabeth83]

I'm sorry Annastasia I don't have much information to give about them From my short experience with them I had 2 females. One was very colored up and the guy who sold me them said he thought that one was a male. She gave birth so that was obviously wrong. The colored up one always bullied the less colored one and they were supposed to be the same species Nomorhamphus liemi liemi. The less colored one had the same markings as the more colored one so I am thinking possibly she didn't display her normal colors because the other one was the dominant one..also because she was being chased and bullied quite a lot by the more colored one.

I was sold them with the information being that keeping a single pair together was fine. I've since read on many sites that that is not recommended that they are a social fish and like to be in groups of 5 or more with the ratio being 1 male per 3-5 females. I read it was best kept them like this so the male didn't harass just a single female.

I don't know much about the 4 eyed fish but I know your right about only a left male can breed with a right female and vice versa. The picture of the tank I posted the other day has a information sheet on it explaining this. Next time I am at that shop I can ask how they stock theirs. From the looks of it ..it just seems to be a big mix. I've watched them for 10-15 mins before and they don't seem aggressive at all. They just follow you all around the tank with their big eyes. It's kind of surreal actually. They seem a lot more intelligent that just a fish

I'm not sure what tankmates are best kept with halfbeaks but I know I tried keeping mine with a Apisto Macmasteri and it would chase them all around trying to eat them. Needless to say that set-up didn't last long. I found I could keep them with peacock gudgeons and rams just fine though. I think you have to be a little careful with the tankmates you choose though because I think a lot would view the halfbeaks as potential food seeing as they spend most of their time at the surface. I'd think some tetras might try and nip at their fins?

Anyways that's my experience with the halfbeaks..not sure how much I've helped

 

[Annastasia]

Thanks guys...this will help Toxis and I a lot. Unfortunatly, it won't be done for a while as I am going on vacation tomorrow early, but when it does get done, hopefully it will be helpful!

Thanks again.