All fish / Zenarchopteridae

Celebes halfbeak

Nomorhamphus liemi

Also known as celebes halfbeak, sulawesi halfbeak, black-finned halfbeak, nomorhamphus liemi liemi, liemi halfbeak, celebes half beak, red celebes halfbeak, ノモルハムフス・リエミ, julung-julung sulawesi, 苏拉威西鱵, 黑鳍鱵

A slim, surface-dwelling halfbeak with a short, downturned lower jaw flap, a silvery to bronze body and black or red edged fins in males. Keepers like it for its unusual shape, active behaviour near the surface and the interest of a livebearing species from Sulawesi.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

9 cm

Temperature

22 to 26 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.8

Smallest tank

100 litres

Keep as

Group of 5 or more, one male to several females

Diet

Carnivore: live and frozen insect larvae, fruit flies, bloodworm, brine shrimp, floating pellets

Swims

Top of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Southern Sulawesi, Indonesia (Maros karst streams)

Breeding

A livebearer with internal fertilisation; females give birth to around 10 to 20 large fry every six to eight weeks. Breeding is fairly straightforward, but adults may eat fry, so dense plants or a separate tank help.

Good to know

Males squabble with each other, so provide space and more females than males. Keep a tight lid as they jump, and avoid sharp decor that can damage the jaw.