Wrestling Halfbeak Care Guide

Wrestling Halfbeak (Dermogenys pusilla) is an intermediate-level freshwater fish that needs at least 10 gallons and 75-82°F. A livebearer that spends nearly all its time at the surface hunting small insects, with a pointed lower jaw unlike a guppy or platy. Males joust with each other over territory, so keep either a single male or a real group rather than two that will fixate on one another, and expect it to be flighty until it settles in.

Care facts at a glance

Quick tips

• Feed from the surface; it rarely looks lower in the tank.
• Use a tight lid and dense edge planting; it jumps and startles easily.
• Prioritize surface area over depth when choosing a tank.

San Diego water

Tolerates San Diego's hard, alkaline tap water (pH roughly 7.6-8.6) with slow acclimation and a conditioner that handles chloramine. Learn the numbers in our San Diego tap water guide.

Before you buy

Make sure your tank is cycled (how to cycle a tank), check your numbers with the water testing guide, and use the compatibility guide to check tankmates. These are general ranges; individual fish and local water vary.