Nomorhamphus species feed extensively on small insects, either in the form of aquatic larvae or as flying insects that have fallen onto the surface of the water. They are important predators on insects such as mosquitoes, so play a role in controlling malaria. Nomorhamphus are too small to be of value as food, but they do have some value as aquarium fish.

 

The pretty halfbeaks of the genus Nomorhamphus reach us usually as wild collected fish from Indonesia. They originate from the island of Sulawesi (formerly: Celebes) where they inhabit preferably running waters. They like to feed very much on insects from the water surface, but they also take readily dried or frozen food. Males become usually 6-8 cm long; females become larger and can reach up to 10 cm. These fishes are livebearers. They do not require any special water.

 

Against conspecifics the males can be quarrelsome. One should either keep a good number of males (5 or more) or only one male per tank. Two or three males together do usually not good.

 

We most often receive these fishes as a mix composed of at least two species. This time the import contained Nomorhamphus liemi and N. ebrardtii. Both species can be told easily apart on the basis of the coloration. In N. liemi the males develop a fleshy hook on the tip of the lower beak. The size of this hook - in combination of the intensity of the coloration of the fins - shows which position in the hierarchy the particular male has. The big boss has the fattest hook, animals with a low rank have no hook at all and almost plain white fins. Females also have no hook. They can be easily recognized by the shape of the anal fin, which is a simple, normal fin in females, whereas in males this fin is modified into a complicated sexual organ, called andropodium.

 

For our customers: the animals have code 438832 (liemi) and 438822 (ebrardtii) on our stock list. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

 

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer