There are 20 valid species in the genus Zenarchopterus, all of them occuring along the Pacific coast of tropical Asia. The maximum length of Zenarchopterus is around 15 cm, only a few species are recorded to reach a greater length, most of them stay smaller. The species are very similar to each other and the only safe way for a positive identification of the species is via the external visible sexual organ of the males. In males, the posterior part of the anal fin is modified to a mating organ called andropodium. Only in one species, Z. quadrimaculatus, a melanophore pattern exists, all other species are silvery.

Recently we were able to import Zenarchopterus from Taiwan. According to Taiwanese literature, the only existing species of Zenarchopterus in Taiwan is Z. dunckeri. As we have no adult male in the import (the specimens are around 8 cm long) we were not able to verfy this identification, but have simply adopted the name.

Zenarchopterus are fascinating aquarium inhabitants that are swimming always close to the water surface. In the wild they feed mainly on land-insects that fall in the water, but in the aquarium they also feed happily on flake food. Against any tankmates these fish are very peaceful, but they tend to panic and thus should not be combined with “nasty” species. Most probably all species of Zenarchopterus are egg layers, but there is so far no detailed breeding report available. Zenarchopterus are typical estuarine fishes and thus prefer brackish water, although some species (among them Z. dunckeri) can be found far upstreams and others also enter happily the open sea. It is best to keep them in a salinity of 5-15 grams salt per litre.

For our customers: the fish have code 479304 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Zenarchopterus: ancient Greek, means “the one with a life-giving fin”, referring to the andropodium found in male fish. dunckeri: dedication name for Georg Duncker, ichthyologist in the Zoologisches Museum Hamburg, who discovered (among other species) the harlequin barb, Trigonostigma heteromorpha. quadrimaculatus: Latin, means “with four spots”.

Suggestion of a common name: Duncker´s river gar

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

The wonderful, large halfbeaks of the
genus Zenarchopterus are only very rarely offered, because the animals
are very shy during the acclimatisation. When they panic they often hurt
themselves seriously. So we are very proud that we were able to import
successfully a small group of fully grown specimens of the species
Zenarchopterus dunckeri from Taiwan. The fish are currently about 15 cm
long. The group is formed of two males and three females. Despite the
very long gonopodium that clearly indicates an internal fertilization
the fish are – to the best of our knowledge – egg layers.

These fish need spacious aquaria, very
clean, bactertia-poor, hard water. The pH must be over 8. It is possible
to keep these fish, which are completely euryhalin, also in brackish or
pure seawater, but an addition of salt is not absolutely essential. The
fish prefer flake foods, but also accept other food items as long as
they are floating on the water surface. Once the food is sunken to the
bottom it becomes ignored. One should choose only absolutely peaceful
tankmates for cleaning the tank from sunken food – for example Corys –
because even harmless, but curious fish can literally (!) frighten the
halfbeaks witless! Once Zenarchopterus have settled they can live
happily many years in aquaria.

For our customers: the fish have code 479305 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Most
of halfbeaks of the genus Nomorhamphus originate from Sulawesi
(formerly known as Celebes). Some species, like N. ebrardtii or N. rex,
are traded usually as wild collected ones, others, among them N. liemi,
are occasionally also available as bred ones. A species that occurs
hardly ever in the trade is the Black Halfbeak, Nomorhamphus celebensis.
Currently we have some German bred ones in stock.

This
species is not as colorful as others, but comparatively very peaceful
instead. They tolerate as well conspecifics and other species in their
tank. During displaying the males of N. celebensis become jet-black.

The
males stop growing when they have reached a total length of about 6 cm,
but the females can grow up to a length of about 10 cm. If one wants to
breed these fishes the basic task is to save the offspring; the parents
are cannibalistic. One must never separate a gravid female too late; in
that case it will often give birth to dead youngs. And one must never
separate a gravid female too early, because these fish are quite lively
and need free space for swimming. So, even breeding the “simple”
livebearers is quite a tricky thing….

For our customers: the fish have code 438802 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

The needlefishes (Belonidae) are mainly marine fish. But there do exist three genera with a total of eight species in South America that live exclusively in freshwater. Among them the genus Potamorrhaphis is the most specious one: currently four acceoted species are known.

Potamorrhaphis can attain a maximum length of about 30 cm. Astonishingly these needlefish adapt very easy to the life in aquaria. They do not panic at all, what would lead to bad injuries of the sensitve beak. The fish must be fed in the beginning with live feeder fish (fish size 1-2 cm). Most needlefish can be trained to take sooner or later also frozen food.

Potamorrhaphis are social animals. It is fascinating to watch a school of these elegant predators. The Potamorrhaphis we currently could import originate from Peru. In that area the most recently described species P. labiatus occurs. But all features that can be examined on live fish externally fit better to the species P. guianensis in our fish.

For our customers: the animals have code 281534 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade. Available in limited numbers only!

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

These tiny “pikes” are real wonders of nature. The fish become only 4-5 cm long. They obtained their popular name “halfbeak”, because the upper part of the beak is only half as long as the lower one. In Dermogenys this upper half of the beak is movable. It is used by the animals to catch their prey: small flies, pollen etc. that fall on the water surface. The fish prefer to swim straight under the water surface.

Dermogenys are livebearing fish and live widespread over southeastern Asia in freshwater. The males are very quarrelsome against each other and are used sometime for fish fights like the bettas.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

For the first time ever we could import this very beautiful halfbeak from Indonesia. The halfbeaks of the genus Hemirhamphodon are adapted to blackwater in the wild. Thus they need – at least for the time of acclimatisation – very soft and acidic water. Maximum length of the species is around 6 cm (male), females stay smaller.

For our customers: the fish have code 421413 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

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

This pretty little fish is a challenge for experienced hobbyists. The species originates from Borneo. In contrast to the widespread prejudice halfbeaks of the genus Hemirhamphodon do not appear in brackish water; they are strictly bound to very soft and acidic water! These fishes are commonly found along with chocolate gouramis and small rasboras.

The other species of Hemirhamphodon are livebearers. Not so H. tengah: this is an egg-laying species. Breeding H. tengah is in most respects similar to breeding killifishes of the Apyhosemion-type. The females like to spawn in java moss, peat or in artificial breeding mops made of wool.

The fish are strictly surface-dwellers. They are not very demanding regarding food, but never take food from the bottom. So they should be fed with flakes and different types of live food. Small fruit flies (Drosophila) are a delicacy for Hemirhamphodon. Maximum length of the fish is about 6 cm.

For our customers: the fish have code 421552 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexikon. Hemirhamphodon: from ancient Greek, means about “with teeth on the halfbeak”. tengah: after the province Kalimantan tengah on Borneo, where the species has been collected initially.

Suggestion of a common name: Egglaying halfbeak

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

The Needlefishes (Belonidae) are a relative small family and are represented by a small number (about 35) of species only, but these are very successful and can be found in marine and freshwater habitats of temperate and tropical regions worldwide. Some of them are so common that they form the basis of a commercial fishery for human consumption.

The Genus Xenentodon is restricted to tropical Asia. The fish are found exclusively in freshwater. They are unbelievable elegant predators that live near the water surface. In their natural habitat they are found always in schools. Currently only two species are accepted, namely Xenentodon cancila and X. canciloides. The beautiful fish we were able to import now from Thailand are closer to X. canciloides than to X. cancila, but may represent a still undescribed species as well.

Xenentodon can reach a total length up to 30 cm and thus should not be kept in too small tanks. Aquarists who want to keep these fish also have to guarantee the supply of the needlefish with small, life foodfish. If these preferences are assured, keeping needlefish is unproblematical. They even breed readily in captivity. The eggs have entangling tendrils and are placed in fine waterplants etc. The fish do not take care for their brood in any way. Males can be recognized when they reach sexual maturity (at a length of 15-20 cm): from that size on they have a red hump directly behind the head.

For our customers: The fish have code 476103 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Xenentodon: ancient Greek, means “with disconcerting teeth”; this applies to the lower pharyngeal plate. cancila: after an indigenous name for the fish in Bengal. canciloides: means “similiar to cancila”.

Suggestion of a common name: Inkstripe Needlefish

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer