Halfbeak

[Gytas]

I was in my local pet shop the other day and i sow a halfbeak I never seen 1 before and i never thought that they would be great fish to keep and that they dont look that nice but when i sow one they look great love to have 1 and they seem to have great personality Are they a great fish to keep? Could any1 post pics ?




thanks

 

[nmonks]

Yes, they are very fun fish to keep. They're probably my overall favourite fish, and I've written several articles about them over the years. I've also got some notes on there at my web site, here. Lots of photos there too.

In terms of care, they're quite straightforward. Moderately hard, neutral water seems to suit most of them; I keep mine at 10 degrees dH, pH 7.5. They eat floating foods including flake. Males are aggressive, and the dominant male especially develops lovely colours. Young females are quite easy to breed, though oddly, the older they get, the fewer fry they seem to produce.

Cheers, Neale

 

[Carlovel1]

I was in my local pet shop the other day and i sow a halfbeak I never seen 1 before and i never thought that they would be great fish to keep and that they dont look that nice but when i sow one they look great love to have 1 and they seem to have great personality Are they a great fish to keep? Could any1 post pics ?




thanks

I want to get them too but I hear they are very sensitive to bad water conditions. And they get spooked really easily like when you play music loudly or approach the tank. They go mad and crash their beak into the sides of the tank.

 

[nmonks]

Not true at all! Halfbeaks are actually quite hardy, and certainly less fussy than, for example, mollies. Certainly miles easier than neon tetras! Wrestling halfbeaks are very adaptable, but even Celebes halfbeaks will do quite well in moderately hard water. I'm not sure you'd use them for cycling a new tank, but once the aquarium is settled they're fine.

When scared, yes, they jump. So obviously they can't be kept in an open-topped tank. But they're really no more nervous than dwarf cichlids or clown loaches. Just don't stick the tank in front of a hi-fi, and turn the tank lights off before you turn the lights off in the room. Not that big of a deal really.

Are they for everyone? Not the absolute beginner, no. But if you have a year's experience under your belt, I can't see them being difficult to keep.

Cheers, Neale

I want to get them too but I hear they are very sensitive to bad water conditions. And they get spooked really easily like when you play music loudly or approach the tank. They go mad and crash their beak into the sides of the tank. Definatly a fish for experienced aquarists!

 

[Carlovel1]

Less fussy than Mollies?
Easier than Neon Tetras?
Clown Loaches are as nervous as Halfbeaks?
Now isnt that exaggerating???
But you are the expert

 

[nmonks]

Not at all.

Mollies do well in freshwater aquaria about 50% of the time. My guess is about half end up fighting finrot and fungus when kept thus. Not a problem with halfbeaks.

Neon tetras are plagued with Neon Tetra Disease. How many folks have kept a whole school of them alive for the full 4-5 years? Most people seem to have to "top up" the school every few months thanks to one or two dying every few weeks. Not a problem with halfbeaks (though I admit halfbeaks aren't long-lived fish, about 2-3 years seeming typical).

Clown loaches usually hide all day. Halfbeaks don't. In fact once settled they aren't at all fussed about overhead lighting.

Cheers, Neale

Less fussy than Mollies?
Easier than Neon Tetras?
Clown Loaches are as nervous as Halfbeaks?
Now isnt that exaggerating???

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Neale, you are an absolute fountain of knowledge!

Just been reading bits of your webpage and saw that the Nomorhamphus genus enjoy current! Can you see what's coming?

... There has been a couple of what appear to be females with little colouration at Aquajardin since I started this hobby back in March, labelled as the Celebes (liemi) variety. Both their lower beaks seem to end very abruptly and I presumed this was down to some damage in the display tank, but now looking at the pics at your site, this could be a natural shape if they are hageni or toewentii.

Do you reckon they could be good candidates for the 5x2x2, given their temperate preference (and then I would have to source another female or two plus a male)?

 

[nmonks]

Aquarium shops give their halfbeaks the right name about 25% of the time. So you are right to be suspicious!

Dermogenys are very adaptable, and can be kept between 20-30 C, possibly slightly cooler in the case of D. pusilla. However, you'll find most Nomorhamphus are kept a bit warmer, 24-26 C in most cases. There may be one or two exceptions though.

Right, must get my attention back to The Archers!

Cheers, Neale

 

[Gytas]

Neale you seem to know a lot about them great cause if i get 1 i will know were to go for help

 

[Gytas]

i went back to my local pet shop today and i sow many halfbeaks well i think they were they looked just like the ones in pictures but the beaks on them were short


does any1 know what tyoe of halfbeaks they are ?

thanks

 

[nmonks]

Most of the Celebes halfbeaks, Nomorhamphus spp., have quite stubby beaks. In the case of male Nomorhamphus liemi for example, the beaks curl under the jaw.

Nomorhamphus are quite good halfbeaks if you have soft to moderately hard, acidic to slightly basic water conditions.

Cheers, Neale

 

[Gytas]

mh thanks for your help