Celebes Halfbeak

Celebes Halfbeaks are primarily insectivorous and thrive on live or frozen foods such as fruit flies (Drosophila), small crickets, daphnia, mosquito larvae, and bloodworms. They will also accept high-quality floating flake foods and micro pellets, though live and frozen foods should make up the bulk of their diet. Feed small amounts 2-3 times daily, as they prefer to feed at the water surface.

These active, schooling fish spend nearly all their time at the water surface and are best kept in groups of six or more to reduce skittishness and encourage natural behavior. Males may occasionally spar with one another but rarely cause serious injury, making them suitable for peaceful community tanks. They are fast swimmers and can be easily startled, so a tight-fitting lid is essential as they are prone to jumping.

Celebes Halfbeaks are livebearers that give birth to relatively few but large, well-developed fry after a gestation period of around 6-8 weeks. Breeding is moderately easy when the fish are well-conditioned with live foods and kept in slightly alkaline, hard water. Females should be moved to a separate breeding tank before giving birth, as adults may consume fry; the fry are large enough to accept baby brine shrimp and micro worms immediately.