Platinum Half Beak

Also known as an Albino Wrestling Half-Beak, it is a schooling fish that is very entertaining to watch. Male fish of this species have very colorful fins and a black lobe on the lower jaw. Females have less color in the fins and have a red or uncolored lobe. Half-beaks, along with four-eye anableps, are the aquarium's most unusual livebearers.

The best environment for a half-beak fish is a community aquarium with plants, rocks, caves, and driftwood. A small school should be kept with other peaceful fish of similar size. Half-beaks tend to swim near the top of the aquarium.

Quick Facts

Care Guide

Tank setup: Halfbeaks live at the surface, so give them floating plants and a tight-fitting lid, since they jump. They are easily startled, so avoid sudden movements around the tank.

Feeding: Feed a quality floating flake once or twice a day. They also enjoy small frozen foods like bloodworms and brine shrimp.

Tankmates: They get along with peaceful fish that swim lower in the tank, such as rasboras, corydoras and gouramis. Males may spar with each other.

Breeding: Halfbeaks are livebearers. Adults will eat the babies, so floating plants give them a place to hide.

Good to know: Halfbeaks have a long lower jaw that helps them catch insects at the surface.