Livebearer, harder to breed than many: many females give birth to stillborn fry, linked to poor nutrition, so feed a high-quality diet. Gestation 3-6 weeks depending on temperature. Remove fry, which take powdered food and brine shrimp nauplii from birth.
One male with 3-4 females.
Planted tank with floating plants, a slightly hard, alkaline water and a little salt.
Warm temperatures and live food.
10-30 young per brood (typically 10-20 in aquaria).
Feed fruit flies, baby brine shrimp and fine flake.
One breeding tank for the malayan halfbeak, drawn to scale from the breeding guide.
Water: 24–28 °C · pH 6.5–8 · hard water
A plan from the breeding guide and an adult size of 5.5 cm. Tank shape is a standard 2 : 1 : 1.2 box, at least 6 adult lengths long. Check each step in the guide above.
A 120 cm rack for breeding the malayan halfbeak in numbers.
In total: 3 tanks, about 340 L of water. A litre of water weighs about 1 kg, so check that the floor and rack can take the weight.
Sizes are worked out from the breeding tank in the guide. Tanks fit a standard 120 cm rack when they can; bigger tanks go on their own stands.
Males have the anal fin modified into an andropodium, a red patch on the dorsal fin, and are by far the smaller sex.
Typical for livebearers
A dark 'gravid spot' grows behind the belly. Gestation is usually about 4 weeks.
Fry are born ready to swim. Thick plants or a breeding box keep them safe from adults.
Feed crushed flake, baby brine shrimp or microworms 3–5 times a day.
Males start to show color and a pointed anal fin. Separate them if you want to control lines.
Most livebearers are grown and can breed at about 3 months.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
A dark 'gravid spot' grows behind the belly. Gestation is usually about 4 weeks.
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.