Wrestling halfbeak facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wrestling halfbeak
Wrestling halfbeaks in an aquarium
Scientific classification
Synonyms
Hemiramphus fluviatilis Bleeker, 1850

The wrestling halfbeak (Dermogenys pusilla) is a cool fish. It is also called the Malayan halfbeak. This fish lives in fresh and slightly salty water. You can find it in rivers and coastal areas of Southeast Asia. This includes places like Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Borneo, and Sumatra.

It is a small, thin fish that gives birth to live young. Its lower jaw is much longer than its upper jaw. This is a special feature of its fish family. The color of the wrestling halfbeak can change. It depends on where the fish lives. This fish is the main example for its group, called Dermogenys.

What Do Wrestling Halfbeaks Eat?

Wrestling halfbeaks usually swim near the water's surface. They eat small creatures like tiny crabs and insect larvae. They especially love mosquito larvae. They also eat flying insects that fall onto the water. When a halfbeak opens its mouth, its upper jaw lifts up. This helps it grab food.

How Do Wrestling Halfbeaks Reproduce?

Wrestling halfbeaks are livebearing fish. This means the mother fish gives birth to baby fish. She does not lay eggs. After about one month, a female halfbeak can give birth to around twenty babies.

How Can You Tell Males and Females Apart?

Male and female wrestling halfbeaks look different. This is called sexual dimorphism. Females are bigger than males. They can grow up to 7 centimeters (about 2.8 inches) long. Males are smaller, reaching about 5.5 centimeters (about 2.2 inches). Male halfbeaks often have red or yellow spots. These spots are usually on their top fin and their long lower jaw.

Why Do They Fight?

Male wrestling halfbeaks sometimes fight each other. They lock their jaws together. This is why they are called "wrestling" halfbeaks! These fights can last for up to thirty minutes. In the wild or in large tanks, the weaker fish usually swims away quickly. So, these fights rarely cause serious harm.

In some places where they live, people sometimes watch these fish fight. It's like how some people watch competitions with other animals.

Keeping Wrestling Halfbeaks as Pets

Wrestling halfbeaks are popular pet fish. Other fish from the Dermogenys group are also traded. Sometimes they are called "silver halfbeak" or "golden halfbeak." This depends on their color.

These fish need stable water conditions. They are sensitive to sudden changes in water pH or hardness. But they can live in different types of water. This includes soft, acidic freshwater or slightly salty water.

When you first put them in an aquarium, they can be shy. They might swim around very fast if they get scared. They might even bump into the tank walls. But once they get used to their new home, they become active and fun to watch. They are usually easy to care for.

See also

In Spanish: Mediopico luchador para niños