TankBud

Redfin halfbeak

Nomorhamphus ebrardtii

Also known as Celebes halfbeak, Nomorhampus ebrardtii

FreshwaterFish

Redfin halfbeak (Nomorhamphus ebrardtii)
Neale Monks at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
6.7–7.5
Adult size
3.5 in
9 cm
Minimum tank
29 gal
110 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Top
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Livebearer · Medium
Rarity
Common
Family
Zenarchopteridae
Origin
Endemic to Sulawesi (Celebes) and nearby Kabaena island, Indonesia

Overview

The redfin halfbeak is a mostly peaceful surface fish for a long, calm, covered tank. It is best with a little experience.

Did you know

The redfin halfbeak's lower jaw only grows out as the fish matures, so juveniles look almost normal up front. The jaw works like a built-in surface scoop, letting the fish pick off insects and larvae right at the waterline.

Caring for the redfin halfbeak

Give a group of redfin halfbeaks a long tank of at least 29 gal (110 L), since surface area matters far more than depth. Add floating plants such as hornwort or frogbit for cover, and fit a tight, gap-free lid, because they are strong jumpers. Site the tank somewhere calm and low-traffic. The jaw is delicate and easily damaged against the glass when they bolt.

Keep plain fresh water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 6.7 to 7.5, with soft to medium hardness. Unlike its relative Nomorhamphus liemi, the redfin halfbeak does not need brackish water, though it tolerates a little salt. Keep the water clean and well oxygenated, with a gentle current.

Feed live or frozen surface foods like mosquito larvae, daphnia and brine shrimp. Redfin halfbeaks do poorly on a dry-only diet.

Keep one male with several females, or a bigger mixed group with floating plants as visual barriers to spread out the squabbling between males. They are mostly peaceful toward other fish, but they will eat very small fish, shrimp and fry. Choose tank mates with that in mind.

Males stay smaller, while females run a little larger, up to about 10 cm. The redfin halfbeak is a livebearer with small broods. Its developing embryos are nourished inside the oviduct, a trait called oophagy.

Good to know

The redfin halfbeak, Nomorhamphus ebrardtii, belongs to the family Zenarchopteridae, and it is also sold as the Celebes halfbeak. The long lower jaw gives the halfbeak its name.

In the wild

Redfin halfbeaks are endemic to Sulawesi and the nearby island of Kabaena in Indonesia. They hang at the surface of streams and shaded pools and live their whole lives near the top.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The redfin halfbeak is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the top. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a redfin halfbeak need?

A redfin halfbeak needs at least 29 gal (110 L). It spends most of its time in the top.

What temperature and pH does a redfin halfbeak need?

A redfin halfbeak is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 6.7–7.5.

What does a redfin halfbeak eat?

A redfin halfbeak eats live or frozen surface foods like mosquito larvae, daphnia and brine shrimp. It does poorly on a dry-only diet.

How big does a redfin halfbeak get?

An adult redfin halfbeak reaches about 3.5 in (9 cm).

How can you tell a male redfin halfbeak from a female?

Males stay smaller, while females run a little larger, up to about 10 cm.

How does a redfin halfbeak breed?

The redfin halfbeak is a livebearer with small broods. Its developing embryos are nourished inside the oviduct, a trait called oophagy.

Related species