Wrestling Halfbeak (Dermogenys pusilla)

Wrestling Halfbeak Dermogenys pusilla
Name	Wrestling Halfbeak
Name Lat.	Dermogenys pusilla
Family	Viviparous Halfbeaks
Family lat.	Zenarchopteridae
Order	Needle Fishes
Order lat.	Beloniformes
Origin	Southeast Asia
Habitat	Streams, rivers, ponds
Diet	Carnivore
pH	6.5-8.0
Behavior	♂ territorial
Keeping	Group
Care Level	Experts only
Reproduction	Livebearer
Breeding	Moderately difficult
Life Span	3-4 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	5-7 cm
Temperature	24-28 °C
Hardness	10-20 °dH
Aquarium	~ 110 l
US Units
Size	2"-3"
Temperature	75-82 °F
Hardness	178-356 ppm
Aquarium	~ 30 gal

Distribution and habitat

The Pike-headed Half-bills are widely distributed from India through Myanmar and Thailand to Indonesia. They live on the water surface in slowly flowing or stagnant waters, such as small rivers and streams, in floodplains and ponds with dense, often weedy underwater vegetation and floating plant growth, but also in the brackish water of mangrove swamps.

Maintenance

The aquarium should have a varied, partly dense edge planting, with shelters and hiding places (roots) and provide sufficient swimming space. A dark substrate, shaded light (floating plants) and a weak current is ideal.

No ammonia, ammonium and nitrite should be detectable, the nitrate value should not exceed 100 mg/l. To ensure the water quality and oxygen content, a filter and heater adapted to the aquarium size is required, as well as lighting for the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals.

Diet

They prefer to eat food from the water surface. The food supply consists of small insects such as mosquitoes, aphids, fruit flies and fruit flies, plus cyclops, daphnia and mosquito larvae, which are also well accepted freeze-dried or frozen. After habituation, high-quality, protein-rich dry food (flakes, granules) is also accepted, but this should not be the main component of the diet.

Only as much should be fed as is eaten within a few minutes. A regular and varied diet promotes health and increases resistance.

Behaviour and compatibility

They are lively surface fish, which should be maintained in a group of 7-10 animals, with a clear predominance of females. Males are often incompatible with each other, but are peaceful towards other fish. They can be kept very well in a community tank with other peaceful and calm fish

Basically, only mutually compatible fish species with similar demands on water conditions and water temperature should be socialized.

Sex dimorphism

The smaller males have a red spot in the dorsal fin and an anal fin (andropodium) converted to a mating organ. The larger females appear more rounded.

Reproduction and breeding

Pike-headed hemipterans are live-bearing fish. Internal fertilization is provided by the andropodium of the male. After 3-6 weeks of gestation, 10-20 fry are born. They are already fully developed and independent at birth. The mother fish extremely preys on the young.

Fry must be fed several times a day with special rearing food (e.g. Artemia nauplii). In community tanks breeding is hardly possible, because the young fish are easy prey.

Important

The tank should be well covered, as they are good jumpers.

The pike-headed halfbills exist in several color forms through breeding selection

The well-being of the fish should be checked regularly. The temperature should be checked daily, the pH, hardness and nitrate value at least every 14 days. Regular partial water changes are recommended, even if the pollutant level has not yet reached the upper limit. Sudden changes in water quality should be avoided. Newly introduced fish must be accustomed slowly to the water in the aquarium

Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: Werner Winter; Image: petdata

Source: BMEL (1998): Tierschutzgutachten - Haltung von Zierfischen (Süßwasser); RIEHL & BAENSCH (2006): Aquarien Atlas Bd. 1, Mergus Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch 

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF