Species care guide
Fish Care Guide
Use this guide to check the aquarium size, water conditions, behaviour, compatibility and feeding needs of this fish before bringing it home.
Live fish are Click & Collect only.
Order online and collect from Newlands Aquatics.
Key Features:
Distinctive Appearance: A slender, surface-dwelling fish with an elongated “beak-like” lower jaw characteristic of halfbeaks. The white morph of Dermogenys pusillus shows a pale, silvery-white body with subtle translucency, giving it a clean, almost ghostlike appearance near the water’s surface.
Graceful Swimmer: Constantly glides just beneath the water surface in short, darting movements. Males may display “wrestling” behavior, where they gently spar using their elongated jaws and bodies.
Behavior: Active, surface-oriented, and mildly social. Males can be territorial with each other, especially in confined spaces.
Care Requirements:
Tank Conditions:
Best kept in a well-covered aquarium, as they are excellent jumpers. Ideal temperature is 75–82°F (24–28°C). Prefers slightly hard, neutral to mildly alkaline water with good oxygenation and gentle surface flow. Floating plants are highly beneficial for security and natural behavior.
Diet:
Primarily carnivorous. Feeds on small live or frozen foods such as mosquito larvae, daphnia, brine shrimp, and finely chopped insects. Will also accept high-quality floating micro pellets or flakes, but live foods enhance health and activity.
Compatibility:
Generally peaceful with other calm mid-to-lower level fish, but best kept either in species groups or with non-aggressive tank mates. Males may spar, so a ratio favoring females or a spacious tank helps reduce tension.
Size and Growth:
Adult Size:
Typically reaches 3–4 cm, with males often slightly slimmer and more elongated than females.
Growth:
Grows steadily under warm, stable conditions with a protein-rich diet. Juveniles develop surface-skimming behavior early, and adult males gradually show more pronounced jaw extension and territorial displays.
