guppymonkey
Fish Herder
I have some Wrestling Half Beaks but I seem to be having trouble finding any other species in the US. I can't even find Celebes and I have heard that they are fairly common. Are halfbeaks a convention/fish club only fish?
Halfbeaks In America?
- Thread starter guppymonkey
- Start date
nmonks
A stroke of the brush does not guarantee art from
It's the opposite in the UK -- the two or three "Celebes halfbeaks" are common, but the species sold as wrestlers seems to be much rarer! Infuriating, isn't it! That's why I always say, when you see halfbeaks, snap them up, because they won't be there next month!
Halfbeaks are collected from the wild, and are probably seasonal because of it. That will be one factor. They are also not in great demand because they can be very delicate for the first week after taking them home, hence Wal-Mart type places would sooner go with reliable guppies and mollies. Find a good tropical fish shop, and talk with the manager. It is possible he or she can order them for you. Ordering fish is fairly standard, and while time consuming (you will need to wait a few weeks) isn't expensive or difficult. Basically, retailers have lists a bit like home delivery Chinese restaurant menu, and usually once or twice a month they fax through their order to an wholesaler in Florida or Singapore or wherever. All they need do is add halfbeaks to their list, and there you go.
There are some online sites that let you do this directly, and mail oder fish to the door. Possibly worth considering.
Cheers,
Neale
Halfbeaks are collected from the wild, and are probably seasonal because of it. That will be one factor. They are also not in great demand because they can be very delicate for the first week after taking them home, hence Wal-Mart type places would sooner go with reliable guppies and mollies. Find a good tropical fish shop, and talk with the manager. It is possible he or she can order them for you. Ordering fish is fairly standard, and while time consuming (you will need to wait a few weeks) isn't expensive or difficult. Basically, retailers have lists a bit like home delivery Chinese restaurant menu, and usually once or twice a month they fax through their order to an wholesaler in Florida or Singapore or wherever. All they need do is add halfbeaks to their list, and there you go.
There are some online sites that let you do this directly, and mail oder fish to the door. Possibly worth considering.
Cheers,
Neale
OP
OP
guppymonkey
Fish Herder
I have only seen Celebes for sale on one site and I didn't get to buy them before they were sold out. I actually bought my wrestling halfbeaks online where they were labelled as Celebes but they are definately not! I wish I could order fish from the UK but I am pretty sure it would cost a fortune and probably have to go through customs.
wendywc
Rocking a crabshell for a hat.
guppymonkey, what website did you order yours from? Was it liveaquaria?
diburning
Fishaholic
yea, I've been having problems finding halfbeaks too. I found some... but then they didn't look like the livebearer kind because they were smaller than a halfbeak's fry.
There are some halfbeaks that are fully marine and lay eggs (dunno much about them... saw them in a magazine somewhere) and they can be kept in freshwater early in life but will have to be moved to marine at like 2 inches
There are some halfbeaks that are fully marine and lay eggs (dunno much about them... saw them in a magazine somewhere) and they can be kept in freshwater early in life but will have to be moved to marine at like 2 inches
OP
OP
guppymonkey
Fish Herder
From what I have read those marine species are basically brackish when they are young. I haven't heard many good things about caring for them, seems like there has not been many attempts to really figure out how to keep them really healthy.
nmonks
A stroke of the brush does not guarantee art from
As I understand it, most halfbeaks are marine, and those are all egg layers. Only the freshwater species are livebearers.
I have seen wild baby halfbeaks in Florida (e.g., in the St. Lucie river) and they are absolutely adorable. About an inch long, tiny, thin brown strips. You think they're bits of horsehair or something at first, except they orient themselves into the current, presumably feeding on plankton of some kind. Often see them in pairs, sometimes singly. As they mature, they do indeed go off into coastal waters and become much more marine. In tropical seas, halfbeaks are really common, and often used as bait in game fishing.
Celebes halfbeaks are not very marine halfbeak like in shape, they're a bit dumpy. But the wrestling halfbeaks, and especially the Hemirhamphodon species you very occasionally see, are much more like them. They do the whole "hanging in the current" thing, and have the right slender look and the long beak. There are some brackish water Zenarchopterus imported supposedly, but I've never seen them. They're extremely cool-looking.
Cheers,
Neale
I have seen wild baby halfbeaks in Florida (e.g., in the St. Lucie river) and they are absolutely adorable. About an inch long, tiny, thin brown strips. You think they're bits of horsehair or something at first, except they orient themselves into the current, presumably feeding on plankton of some kind. Often see them in pairs, sometimes singly. As they mature, they do indeed go off into coastal waters and become much more marine. In tropical seas, halfbeaks are really common, and often used as bait in game fishing.
Celebes halfbeaks are not very marine halfbeak like in shape, they're a bit dumpy. But the wrestling halfbeaks, and especially the Hemirhamphodon species you very occasionally see, are much more like them. They do the whole "hanging in the current" thing, and have the right slender look and the long beak. There are some brackish water Zenarchopterus imported supposedly, but I've never seen them. They're extremely cool-looking.
Cheers,
Neale
diburning
Fishaholic
I am opening an online fish store soon. I can get wrestling halfbeaks for about $5 USD (I will have to calculate shipping upon weight to get the cheapest but fastest shipping availible)
I don't know about import/export laws to the UK, but if there aren't any problems, I could probably supply a few every week.
right now, I have one female that I am keeping and they are very hardy unlike the celebes.
If I get any celebes, I'll let people know. You might want to pm me if you need anything. It would be easier on aim. My AIM SN is ericpikmn
I don't know about import/export laws to the UK, but if there aren't any problems, I could probably supply a few every week.
right now, I have one female that I am keeping and they are very hardy unlike the celebes.
If I get any celebes, I'll let people know. You might want to pm me if you need anything. It would be easier on aim. My AIM SN is ericpikmn
slamster17
Fish Addict
at work we just got some halfbeaks. they are labelled as albino and i know for a fact that they are not albino. the entire body is silver even the eyes except for the pupil. the fins have red/orange/yellow/black. they are about 2 inches long at the most 1-1.5 inches at the least. what kind of halfbeak are they?
diburning
Fishaholic
Red Fin I think. Those actually need brackish water.
The ones that I have, demogenys pusilla (pygmy/dwarf halfbeak) only get about 2 inches long and don't have too much coloring
It would help if you got a picture. (I am like an expert on this stuff lol)
slamster17
Fish Addict
i was thinking of buying one or two to keep in a 10 gallon freshwater tank just for the two, but if they are for sure brackish i wont do it. they are almost completely silver except for the fins which is where the only color difference is. some had more color in the fins then others.
slamster17
Fish Addict
well, i was completely almsot wrong...there is barely any color in the fins except a small amount of black and red/yellow...the body is completely silver except fora small black pupil in the eye. i bought 2 of them. ill take pics soon.
slamster17
Fish Addict
a reliable source informed me that they are Dermogenys pusillus or wrestling halfbeaks. they are awesome. i got the about 3 hours ago and they are ravenously attacking the dropper that bloodworms come out of its amazing i want to buy the rest of them. any special care?
nmonks
A stroke of the brush does not guarantee art from
I've just posted something on identifying halfbeaks, which you might find useful. There are quite a few species offered for sale, and the dealers generally have no idea what they're selling.
Otherwise, there's some more stuff on my web pages? on keeping and breeding them. No, they don't need brackish.
http
/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=145273
Cheers,
Neale
Otherwise, there's some more stuff on my web pages? on keeping and breeding them. No, they don't need brackish.
http
/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=145273Cheers,
Neale
diburning
Fishaholic
nice guide lol
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