TankBud

Forest halfbeak

Hemirhamphodon pogonognathus

Also known as Three Spot Halfbeak

FreshwaterFish

Forest halfbeak (Hemirhamphodon pogonognathus)
Neale Monks at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
3.5 in
9 cm
Minimum tank
34 gal
130 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Top
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
Livebearer · Hard
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Zenarchopteridae
Origin
Thailand, Sunda Islands

Overview

The forest halfbeak is a slender, peaceful surface fish for a quiet, soft-water tank. It is a fish for experienced keepers.

Did you know

The forest halfbeak's species name, pogonognathus, means bearded jaw. It describes the small fleshy growths some males carry on the underside of the long lower beak.

Caring for the forest halfbeak

Forest halfbeaks need a covered tank of 34 gal (130 L) or larger, with floating plants and calm water. They stay near the surface and will jump, so keep the lid in place. Tannins from leaf litter or wood, subdued light and gentle flow recreate their home.

Keep the water soft, with very little hardness, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. They do not want salt in their water.

They feed at the top on small insects and larvae. Offer frozen and live foods such as bloodworm and small crustaceans, along with a floating flake that includes some plant matter.

Keep them in a group. Forest halfbeaks are peaceful but delicate, so house them with equally gentle tank mates and avoid anything boisterous.

Forest halfbeaks are livebearers, and males fertilize females internally with an andropodium, a modified anal fin. A female gives birth to a small number of well-developed fry. Broods are tiny, and both parents and fry are sensitive to water quality. Breeding them with any consistency is hard.

Good to know

The forest halfbeak belongs to the halfbeak family Zenarchopteridae. Most of its length is a long, thin body, tipped by an extended lower jaw.

In the wild

Hemirhamphodon pogonognathus lives in forest streams and peat swamps of Thailand and the Sunda Islands. The water there is soft, acidic blackwater, shaded by trees. The species is bound to fresh, soft water and does not occur in brackish conditions.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The forest halfbeak is a 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 forest halfbeak need?

A forest halfbeak needs at least 34 gal (130 L). It spends most of its time in the top.

What temperature and pH does a forest halfbeak need?

A forest halfbeak is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a forest halfbeak eat?

A forest halfbeak feeds at the top on small insects and larvae. Give it frozen and live foods such as bloodworm and small crustaceans, plus a floating flake with some plant matter.

How big does a forest halfbeak get?

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

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

Males have an andropodium, a modified anal fin they use to fertilize the female internally.

How does a forest halfbeak breed?

Forest halfbeaks bear live young, and a female produces only a small brood of well-developed fry. Both adults and fry are sensitive to water quality, so breeding them with any consistency is hard.

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