Gorgeous, large specimens of this livebearing halfbeak reached us from Borneo (Sarawak) recently. The species can hardly be told apart from the better known relative, H. pogonognathus. However, we have the feeling that it is a bit stouter. But our determination bases mainly on the origin (Sarawak).
Like all other Hemirhamphodon, H. kuekenthali is a pure freshwater fish that prefers soft and acidic water. Feeding the animals is very easy, as they accept readily any type of flake food or freeze-dried food. But one must keep in mind that the fish feed exclusively from the water surface. Fruitflies (Drosophila) are a delicacy for the halfbeaks.
Males of Hemirhamphodon are quite territorial, so it is wise to keep only one male per tank. The sexes can be easily distinguished by the shape of the anal fin. Males become about 6 cm long, females stay always smaller – at least this is true for fish in the wild. It is, of course, possible that they become a little bit larger in the aquarium.
For our customers: the species has code 421443 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Lexicon: Hemirhamphodon: from ancient Greek, means about “with teeth on the halfbeak”. kuekenthali: dedication name for Willy Georg Kükenthal (1861 – 1922) who discovered the species.
Suggestion of a common name: Sarawak Forest Halfbeak
Text & Photos: Frank Schäfer
| Angaben zum Tier | |
|---|---|
| Herkunft | Indonesien / Indonesia |
| Verfügbare Größe in cm | 6-8 |
