Celebes Halfbeak

[lilfishie]

Would it be possible to keep them in either my 15Gal (Betta Falx Tank) or my 30Gal (Community Tank) at all, i am really liking the look of these fish, both tanks are heavily planted and have plenty of hiding places

 

[nmonks]

It's not so much hiding places that count but swimming space. I do have a bunch of them in a 72-litre "Brillux" aquarium and they're mostly fine, but there is some fighting, and if the plants become too overgrown, it's obvious the halfbeaks get bunched up together in a small space and don't like that.

Your 30 gallon community tank should be ideal, but do make sure that there's lots of swimming space at the top of the tank. I'd not keep more than three males and six females in a tank that size.

Cheers, Neale

Would it be possible to keep them in either my 15Gal (Betta Falx Tank) or my 30Gal (Community Tank) at all, i am really liking the look of these fish, both tanks are heavily planted and have plenty of hiding places

 

[lilfishie]

Thats great the surface is mostly empty until the plants grow a bit more and i don't let them get too over grown

 

[Carlovel1]

Sorry for hijacking but would it be possible to keep more than 1 male Celebes Halfbeaks in a 75 gallon tank?

 

[nmonks]

Glad to have helped. I should clarify: by swimming space, I mean swimming space *at the top* of the tank. Make the bottom two thirds as well planted as you like. Floating plants are important for preventing fights and as hiding places for the fry, so be sure to add some, but you also need to keep those floating plants well pruned.

Cheers, Neale

Thats great the surface is mostly empty until the plants grow a bit more and i don't let them get too over grown

 

[lilfishie]

Take it i'd be best getting at least 2 females per male?

 

[nmonks]

Sorry for hijacking but would it be possible to keep more than 1 male Celebes Halfbeaks in a 75 gallon tank?

Yes. In fact you could keep a dozen or more, and in a big group like that bullying would be minimised.

Take it i'd be best getting at least 2 females per male?

Yes. Or at least, you should have more females than males. The females are MUCH bigger than the males and not without a certain degree of aggression themselves, and they do quite a good job of fending off unwanted suitors.

Cheers, Neale

 

[lilfishie]

Think i will go 1 male 3 females then, i am getting some floating plants for my Betta tank so will just order extra

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Have a read of Neale's page devoted to halfbeaks to be sure you are getting the halfbeaks you want, as fish shop labelled Celebes Halfbeaks (Nomorphamphus liemi liemi) can easily be mixed in with Red Fin Halfbeaks (Nomorhamphus ebrardtii), as they regularly are at my local treasure trove LFS.

http/homepage.mac.com/nmonks/Projects/Halfbeaks/halfbeaks.html