All fish / Zenarchopteridae

Tengah Halfbeak

Hemirhamphodon tengah

Also known as tengah halfbeak, red line halfbeak, hemirhamphodon tengah, borneo halfbeak, ヘミランフォドン・テンガー, julung-julung, 腾加鱵

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A slim surface-dwelling halfbeak with a long, toothed lower jaw, a silvery body and red or black edging on the fins. Hobbyists keep it for its unusual shape and its interesting behaviour in soft-water blackwater setups.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

6 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

5 to 6.5

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

Group of 5 or more with more females than males

Diet

Carnivore: small live and frozen foods such as fruit flies, mosquito larvae, daphnia and brine shrimp

Swims

Top of the tank

Lifespan

2 to 4 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Central Kalimantan, Borneo (Indonesia)

Breeding

It is a livebearer with internal fertilisation, and females give birth to a few well-developed young every few weeks. Adults may eat fry, so dense floating plants or a separate rearing tank help, and breeding is achievable in stable soft, acidic water.

Good to know

Halfbeaks are nervous jumpers and can injure their delicate jaws on the glass, so use a tight lid and avoid sudden movement. Males spar with each other and can be confused with similar Hemirhamphodon species in the trade.