TankBud

Kuekenthal's halfbeak

Hemirhamphodon kuekenthali

Also known as Sarawak forest halfbeak, Three spot forest halfbeak

FreshwaterFish

Kuekenthal's halfbeak (Hemirhamphodon kuekenthali)

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–81°F
23–27°C
pH
5.0–6.8
Adult size
3.3 in
8.5 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Top
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Livebearer · Medium
Rarity
Common
Family
Zenarchopteridae
Origin
Sarawak forest streams, Borneo

Overview

Kuekenthal's halfbeak is a peaceful, surface-dwelling fish for a dim, soft-water tank. It takes a little experience to keep well.

Did you know

Kuekenthal's halfbeak hunts by silhouette. It watches the sky and picks out its meals against the forest canopy.

Caring for the Kuekenthal's halfbeak

Give Kuekenthal's halfbeaks floating cover and a tight lid, since they hunt at the surface film and startle upward. A tank of 20 gal (75 L) or larger with floating plants, leaf litter and dim light suits them. Keep the water soft, at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) and a pH of 5.0 to 6.8, with gentle flow.

Feed small floating and surface foods, live where possible. They rarely take anything from mid-water or the floor.

Keep one male with several females, because males are territorial with each other. Kuekenthal's halfbeaks are peaceful and safe in a community tank.

Unusually for halfbeaks, they are livebearers. Females produce small numbers of large, well-developed young over an extended period. Breeding them is of medium difficulty.

Good to know

Hemirhamphodon kuekenthali is the largest member of its genus, in the halfbeak family Zenarchopteridae. Its lower jaw extends into a long beak, which it uses to take prey from the surface film.

In the wild

Kuekenthal's halfbeak lives in forest streams in Sarawak, on Borneo. The water there is soft, acidic and tannin-stained, shaded by the canopy.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Kuekenthal's 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 Kuekenthal's halfbeak need?

A Kuekenthal's halfbeak needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the top.

What temperature and pH does a Kuekenthal's halfbeak need?

A Kuekenthal's halfbeak is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 5.0–6.8.

What does a Kuekenthal's halfbeak eat?

Kuekenthal's halfbeak eats small floating and surface foods, live ones when you can get them. It rarely takes anything from mid-water or the floor.

How big does a Kuekenthal's halfbeak get?

An adult Kuekenthal's halfbeak reaches about 3.3 in (8.5 cm).

How does a Kuekenthal's halfbeak breed?

Kuekenthal's halfbeak is a livebearer. Females give birth to small numbers of large, well-developed young over a long period, and breeding is of medium difficulty.

Related species