How long do wrestling Halfbeaks live?

Is a wrestling halfbeak a schooling fish?

In its natural form, the Wrestling Halfbeak is green-gray in color, but we are proud to offer a tank-raised gold color morph. This fish is a nearly exclusive surface dweller. While it is not a schooling fish, it can be kept in groups in a larger tank over 30 gallons.

How many babies do wrestling halfbeaks have?

Wrestling halfbeaks are livebearing fish, the females giving birth to around twenty offspring after a gestation period of about a month. Wrestling halfbeaks are sexually dimorphic.

What do wrestling halfbeaks eat?

Wrestling halfbeaks are surface-feeding fish and feed on a variety of small invertebrates including crustaceans and insect larvae, but especially mosquito larvae and flying insects that have fallen onto the surface of the water. As with all halfbeaks, the upper jaw lifts upwards when the fish is opening its mouth.

What is the size of a wrestling halfbeak?

Wrestling halfbeaks are sexually dimorphic. The females are larger than the males and grow up to 7 cm (3 in) long; males only reach about 5.5 cm (2.2 in) and typically has red or yellow patches on the dorsal fin and the beak.

How do I keep the gold wrestling halfbeak out of my Aquarium?

This can be prevented by positioning plant vegetation along the sides and back of the aquarium walls. The Gold Wrestling Halfbeak is a proficient jumper, so a secure lid or at least plenty of surface vegetation is necessary in the aquarium.

What kind of fish is a wrestling halfbeak?

The Gold Wrestling Halfbeak (Dermogenys pusilla) is a very interesting oddball livebearer that is excellent for the nano or planted aquarium. In its natural form, the Wrestling Halfbeak is green-gray in color, but we are proud to offer a tank-raised gold color morph.

Why are they called halfbeaks wrestling?

Halfbeaks derive their common name from the elongated lower jaw shared by all species. The ‘wrestling’ moniker given to this particular species is due to the tendency of males to fight with each other, often locking jaws in the process.

Are wrestling halfbeaks easy to care for?

When first introduced into the aquarium, wrestling halfbeaks are nervous fish that tend to be timid. They may swim frantically if suddenly frightened, even crashing into the walls. However, once they are used to their surroundings, they become lively, easy to care for fish.

What is the scientific name of the wrestling halfbeak?

D. pusilla. The wrestling halfbeak ( Dermogenys pusilla) also known as Malayan halfbeak is a species of viviparous halfbeak native to the fresh and brackish waters of rivers and coastal regions in South-East Asia, in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra. It is a small, slender, livebearing fish,…

How do you tell if a halfbeak is male or female?

Sexing: The anal fins of the males are modified and appear “folded”, producing a structure analogous to the gonopodium of poecilid livebearers like guppies and mollies. Males of some varieties of wrestling halfbeak have red or red-and-yellow dorsal, anal, and caudal fins, but not all.

What is the difference between wrestling and Celebes halfbeaks?

Comments: Wrestling halfbeaks are much smaller and more slender than Celebes and red fin halfbeaks of the genus Nomorhamphus. They also tend to stay close to the surface of the aquarium whereas Celebes halfbeaks spend a lot of time swimming in the middle of the tank.

Can a wrestling halfbeak live in brackish water?

Can also be acclimatised to brackish water. Community with no tiny fish. The Wrestling Halfbeak is an elongate surface-dweller known from canals, drains, flooded fields, lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams where the waters are sluggish and heavily vegetated.

What is a halfbeak fish?

The Halfbeak is an unusual surface dwelling fish with an obvious ‘beak’ like mouth appendage. The fish is timid at first and prone to damaging its mouth during quick flights when startled. Once settled in a tank the fish is more confident and lively. Surface floating plants should be provided as cover.

Is the gold wrestling halfbeak a nervous fish?

The Gold Wrestling Halfbeak is a somewhat nervous fish and it can easily damage its long lower jaw by bumping into the aquarium glass when startled. This can be prevented by positioning plant vegetation along the sides and back of the aquarium walls.

What kind of water do wrestling halfbeaks like?

The Wrestling Halfbeaks are small fish that will spend their time near the water’s surface in an aquarium. They prefer low-end brackish water in the range of 1.000 and 1.005 specific gravity.

What kind of water does a gold wrestling halfbeak need?

Care is fairly simple for the Gold Wrestling Halfbeak. It is naturally found in a variety of water parameters, including somewhat brackish water up to a salinity of 1.005. However, it is somewhat intolerant of sudden changes in water parameters, so smaller, more frequent water changes are recommended.

What is a wrestling halfbeak?

The Wrestling Halfbeak is an elongate surface-dweller known from canals, drains, flooded fields, lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams where the waters are sluggish and heavily vegetated. Larvae and young fry are sometimes found in the brackish waters of the upper reaches of mangrove swamps during the rainy season.

How long do wrestling halfbeaks fight?

The males of wrestling halfbeaks will fight among themselves by locking jaws, hence their name, for up to thirty minutes. This species was described as Dermogenys pusillus by Heinrich Kuhl and Johan Coenraad van Hasselt in 1823 with the type locality given as Bogor, Java, the name was subsequently amended to the feminine form.

What kind of water does a wrestling halfbeak need?

While Dermogenys pusilla apparently does best in slightly brackish water as far as captive care goes, a variety of species are sold under the wrestling halfbeak name, others prefer somewhat soft, acidic to neutral water conditions, as with Dermogenys montanus and Dermogenys sumatrana.

What kind of water do wrestling halfbeaks live in?

Care: Wrestling halfbeaks of the genus Dermogenys inhabit a variety of waters from soft and acidic through to slightly brackish.

What is the difference between a male and female half beak?

Males and females are sexually dimorphic. That means the males are very different in appearance that females. The males have a gonopodium which is a modified anal fin used to inseminate the female. The females are not as brightly colored as the males. Half Beaks display a variety of breeding habits.

What does a halfbeak fish look like?

Halfbeak fish have quite a distinct appearance due to their slender body. Here’s a detailed breakdown of their physical attributes. With colors ranging from glittering silver to a pleasant tan and all the way to a sedate brown, you can certainly find a Halfbeak that matches your taste.

Why do they call it wrestling fish?

The ‘wrestling’ moniker given to this particular species is due to the tendency of males to fight with each other, often locking jaws in the process. It is used as a fighting fish in some of its native countries, with wagers being placed on the outcome of fights between males.

Is the Celebes halfbeak a nervous fish?

The Celebes Halfbeak is a somewhat nervous fish and it can easily damage its long lower jaw by bumping into the aquarium glass when startled. This can be prevented by positioning plant vegetation along the sides and back of the aquarium walls.

Do halfbeaks live in freshwater?

Halfbeaks are found both in fresh and salt water. The Dermogenys pusilla, however, usually resides in slow or stagnant freshwater reservoirs. This includes rivers, ponds, lakes and even flooded fields.