Whats The Most Colourful Dermogenys ?

[piper]

Hello,

I'm looking for a nice top dweller to finish of my tank. Can anyone sugest a good Dermogenys or any other colourful halfbeak. Must be top dweller and under 10cm (ish). Pics would be great if you have any

 

[nmonks]

Nomorhamphus are much more colourful than Dermogenys, though bigger (large species get up to ~10 cm, though the males are smaller). Nomorhamphus brembachi would be a lovely choice. Lots of colour, and it stays small (~5 cm). Keith at Wildwoods can get them, and you'd do a lot worse than giving him a call. They currently have Nomorhamphus liemi snidjersi in stock, and that's another nice species.

I have some pages on my experience of keeping and breeding halfbeaks at the links below. I've successfully bred Dermogenys and Nomorhamphus, but as yet no luck with Hemirhamphodon. Anyway, there's lots of pictures there.

http/homepage.mac.com/nmonks/aquaria/halfbeaks.html
http/homepage.mac.com/nmonks/aquaria/halfbeakbreeding.html

Cheers, Neale

 

[piper]

Neale,

I was under the impression that Nomorhamphus were not exclusive top dwellers. But Dermogenys would stay with in a few centimeters of the surface. I have Barbs, Rainbowfish and tetras (also have mollies but they are being sold on once coloured up) so have alot of mid dwellers. This was why I was looking at Dermogenys rather than Nomorhamphus. Unless you can correct me in my thoughts

 

[nmonks]

Nomorhamphus will stay largely at the surface, but they will "dive down" if there's food to be had. Not all do, but some learn to do this. Others stay at the surface. The dominant male tends to stay at the top regardless but the other males will go down among the plants, mostly to hide from the bully male. Otherwise, halfbeaks only dive down into open water, as far as I can tell, and avoid swimming into plants. So it depends a bit on your tank.

Cheers, Neale