Not furry, but we like them anyway.

Celebes Halfbeak

Nomorhamphus liemi

SpeciesShort profile

From Streams of South Sulawesi, Indonesia.1 2

At a glance the quick version

Length6 to 10 cm1 2

Sizesmall

Unusual beard-like jaw

Gives birth to live young

Among the larger species in its genus

2 1

Looks how to spot one

Slender halfbeak

A long, slim surface fish with a lower jaw that extends beyond the upper one and curves downwards at the tip, which hobbyists liken to a goatee beard. Males are smaller and more colourful than females.2 1

ColoursMales with red, black or blue fin patchesFemales plainer2

Personality what they are like

A calm open-water fish that spends its time near the surface watching for insects.1 2

Daily activity how busy a day looks

An active surface swimmer that benefits from a long tank with open space at the top.1

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Keep the water clean and cool-ish, and feed small insects and other live or frozen foods that land on the surface.1 2

Home where they are happiest

Water 20-24 °C, pH 6.0-8.0, soft to moderately hard (5-12 dH). A covered tank with clear swimming space near the surface suits its open-water habits.1

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Mainly insect-eating: flying insects and aquatic larvae in the wild. In aquaria offer small live and frozen foods such as fruit flies and mosquito larvae.1 2

Company who they like around

Can be kept in small groups with peaceful fish that do not compete hard at the surface.1

The story where it all began

Described by Vogt in 1978, it is named after Dig Liem, an Indonesian aquarist and collector. It belongs to a group of halfbeaks found only in Sulawesi and the Philippines.1 2

Fun facts for the dinner table

1
It is named after Indonesian aquarist and collector Dig Liem.1
2
Females give birth to about 9-11 young per cycle.1
3
The downturned jaw tip of this genus has been compared to a goatee beard.2
4
Gestation in the genus takes about six weeks.2

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List: Near Threatened (assessed 2020)1
Taxonomy: Family Zenarchopteridae (internally fertilising halfbeaks); described by Vogt in 19782

The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you

A typical home-care rhythm for a Celebes Halfbeak. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.

FeedingSmall amounts once or twice a dayevery day
Temperature checkevery day
Water changeAbout 25% of the waterevery week
Water testevery week
Glass cleanevery week
Filter rinseRinse in old tank water, never tap waterevery month

Start a free diary

Wrestling Halfbeak

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Where this comes from

Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at support@furrydiary.app and we will fix it.

FishBase: Nomorhamphus liemi fishbase.seused for origin, size, environment, diet, IUCN, etymology
Wikipedia: Nomorhamphus en.wikipedia.orgused for jaw shape, colour, description, reproduction

Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.