Half Beaks

Half Beaks

Half beaks are (mostly) a live bearing fish belonging to the family Hemirhamphidae. Half beaks have an wide range of reproductive modes ranging from egg-laying and ovoviviparity through to true vivipary where the mother is connected to the developing embryos via a placenta-like structure. Half beaks are a long, laterally compressed fish. Half beaks range in size depending on species. The dorsal is set farther back on the body than most fish. The half beak has a long lower jaw that is immovable and a shorter upper jaw that can be moved up and down. Coloration is variable depending on species.

Half beaks can be found in fresh water, brackish and salt water environments in coastal regions of southeast asia, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra and Borneo. Their ideal pH range is 7 to 8.5 and temperatures of 70 to 86*f. Some half beaks need to have salt added to the water. The minimum tank size for most half beaks should be 20 to 30 gallons. They do better in shallower, longer tanks than in higher, shorter tanks. They tend to inhabit the upper portions of the water column.

Half beaks are good jumpers, so a secure, tight fitting lid is a good thing to have. Some floating pants, live or fake, should be added to the tank to provide a place for them to retreat. Many people also recommend putting plants around the edges of the aquarium, that reach the surface. This is to try and keep the half beaks from running into the sides of the tank when startled. Males will squabble with each other on occasion and they do best in groups of 1 male and 3 or 4 females.

Half beaks are surface feeders that will take flake food, but should also be fed a wide variety of frozen or live foods. They will take blood worms, black worms, tubifex worms, mosquito larvae, brine shrimp and small insects. Many half beaks will not breed if they are only fed on flake food. Half beaks require clean water and frequent water changes to be successfully kept and bred.

Half beaks are one of the harder to breed of the live bearers. Still born babies are a common problem. Feeding a greater variety of food and adding vitamins to the diet can help alleviate this problem. Males possess a specialized anal fin called an andropodium. The andropodium is similar to the gonopodium of poecilid livebearers After successful fertilization the female will give birth anywhere from 5 to 8 weeks to 10 to 70 young. Gestation and number of fry depends on species. The newborn fry will take baby brine shrimp and powder flake food. Parents will eat the fry, so they need to be separated into their own tank.

Different species may have slightly different care therefore It is best to research the needs of the specific species in question.