Description

Halfbeak Tetra (Hemirhamphodon phaiosoma)

📌 Basic Info

• Scientific Name: Hemirhamphodon phaiosoma

• Common Names: Halfbeak Tetra, Halfbeak Fish

• Family: Hemiramphidae (Halfbeak Family)

• Order: Beloniformes

• Origin: Southeast Asia — Malaysia, Indonesia, and Borneo freshwater rivers and streams

• Size: Up to 2.5 inches (6–7 cm) in captivity

• Lifespan: 3 – 5 years

• Tank Zone: Top and mid water column

🌊 Water Parameters

• TDS: 50 – 200 ppm

• pH: 6.0 – 7.5

• Temperature: 22 – 28°C (72 – 82°F)

• Hardness: 5 – 15 dGH

🐟 Characteristics

• Body: Slender, elongated body with a distinctive overhanging lower jaw (halfbeak).

• Coloration: Silvery body with subtle green or blue reflections; males may show brighter colors during breeding.

• Fins: Small dorsal and anal fins; forked caudal fin; pectoral fins translucent.

• Behavior: Peaceful and social; active swimmer at the water surface.

• Nature: Diurnal; prefers calm waters with plants and floating cover.

• Special Feature: Unique halfbeak jaw structure allows surface feeding; ideal for micro-live foods.

🍽️ Food

• Type: Omnivorous

• Diet: Live/frozen foods like daphnia, mosquito larvae, brine shrimp; also accepts flakes and micro-pellets.

• Feeding Frequency: Once or twice daily.

• Tip: Surface feeding behavior makes live foods more effective; floating foods are preferred.

🛠️ Maintenance

• Tank Size: Minimum 40 liters (10 gallons) for a small school.

• Filtration: Gentle filtration; avoid strong currents.

• Substrate: Sand or fine gravel.

• Decor: Plants, floating vegetation, driftwood; provide shaded areas.

• Lighting: Moderate; floating plants help reduce stress.

• Water Change: 20% weekly; maintain clean and stable water.

👥 Social Behavior

• Group Size: Best kept in schools of 6 or more.

• Tank Mates: Peaceful community fish like tetras, rasboras, and small gouramis.

• Avoid: Aggressive or overly large fish.

• Compatibility Note: Social fish; stressed if kept singly or in small numbers.

✅ Do’s

• Keep in schools to enhance behavior and reduce stress.

• Provide floating plants for comfort and feeding.

• Maintain stable water parameters and regular water changes.

• Feed a varied diet including live and frozen foods.

❌ Don’ts

• Don’t keep singly; they are schooling fish.

• Don’t house with aggressive species.

• Don’t neglect water quality; sensitive to ammonia/nitrite spikes.

⭐ Quick Tips
Halfbeak Tetras are peaceful, active, and unique freshwater fish with surface-feeding habits. Their slender bodies, halfbeak jaws, and schooling behavior make them ideal for community aquariums with floating plants and calm waters.