Albino Pygmy Halfbeak

The albino pygmy halfbeak is a pale line of Dermogenys pusilla, a small Southeast Asian surface fish named for its jaw: the lower half extends into a long fixed beak while the upper half stays short and hinged. It sits motionless at the very top of the water, angled slightly upward, and snaps at anything that lands on the surface. The albino form is a translucent cream-pink with red eyes. Halfbeaks are livebearers, so the young are born free-swimming.

Aquarium care

• A small, slender surface fish.
• Males spar with each other and can be persistent; keep more females than males.
• Lives at the very top of the tank and rarely leaves it.
• Wants calm water, floating plants and no strong surface current.
• Feed at the surface: floating micro pellets, frozen daphnia, bloodworm and live food.
• Easily startled and a jumper, so keep the tank covered and approach it calmly.

Best in a quiet planted tank with calm mid-water and bottom fish that leave the surface alone, such as corydoras and small rasboras.

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