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anyone have any experience with this fish? my lfs just got some in and i was interested in them. Any info would be appreciated.

They are livebearers and I believe the celebes variety gets to be about 4". The malasian halfbeak gets to be around 2" and if I recall the research I did on these correctly, some salt in the water will benefit them. A planted tank is ideal with an open area in the middle for swimming surrounded by plants.

I posted a message similar to yours on the livebearer forum a few months back and I didn't get much info on FP. Your best bet is a google search. Seem like neat fish but I've never seen them again around here.

EDIT: They are livebearers but don't breed as rapidly as guppies, platies, etc.

Last edited by Rewd at 31-Jan-2005 19:21

yea i did a little bit of reading on them...i don't think i'm gonna be trying them right now mainly because it recomends atleast a 20 long. Also they are tough livebearers and usually end up with still births. Also very skittish and not all that hardy. Seems like to much of a challenge right now, i suppose i will just be getting some endlers instead i hear they are fun.

i have also just seen for the first time albino halfbeaks and found them interseting. is 2.99 a good price. if they are i might get a few.

yea thats a fair price but make sure you do your research on this fish they require "some" specialy care.

I had mine for 2 years now, i fisrt got 10 and 8 still living, they are 4 and 4 in two different tanks, males are very territorial.

At first it was hard to feed them, they only took live food, but after a while they started chaseing flakes as the rest of their tank mates. They are really peaceful and IME really hardy. Mine resist very well me stiking my hands all the time into their tanks to move the aquascape, they even survived 2 gravel changes with them on the tank and did perfectly well, not even loosing color from stress.

the most that they've grown is 3in, they are happy and healthy. I can't say they ever caused any trouble.

You are speaking of malaysian or also called "wrestling halfbeaks" right? Also what size tank and other inhabitants do you have with them?

Hi,

Yes here is a picture i found.

They are ina 50G and a 20G and in the 50G are with Angels, loaches, and tetras
On the 20G are with iliatherinas filamentosas (i think they are rainbow), black neons, piguin tetras and ottos.



Falstaf attached this image:

Wow those are so cool. What a beautiful picture.

I might have to resume my search for those. I was told at a local Petco they had them in only the week before I asked and haven't ever since. That was a good year ago now.

How often do yours breed, Falstaf? Are any of their matings successful? On a livebearer scale they aren't supposed to be that easy to breed...

To be honest i never seen them even mate, they swim all together but never seen them court or anything, i just love them, they are so fun to watch and keep, but never tried to breed them, and if they have, i guess the fry was eaten by the other tankmates. Both tanks are heavily planted and they seem to enjoy that.