Three Spot Forest Halfbeak (Hemirhamphodon kuekenthali)

A rarely seen and beautifully marked species of halfbeak originating in Borneo, the Three Spot Forest Halfbeak (Hemirhamphodon kuekenthali) is unlike most of its relatives as it is found not in brackish water or estuarine areas but in soft, slow flowing streams inland. In the aquarium, this unique surface dwelling species makes an excellent tankmate for similar Southeast Asian blackwater fish like microrasboras, dwarf or chocolate gourami, and other species found in similar warm, acidic, shallow water habitat. This species does best in groups and in an aquarium approximating their wild habitat with tannin-rich water, moderate current, and plenty of surface cover in the form of floating vegetation or branching driftwood close to the water’s surface.