The richness of tidal features seen in interacting galaxies allows for the determination of their characteristic parameters, provided one can deal with the extended parameter space. Genetic algorithm based methods – like our code minga – have proven to be such a tool. Here I discuss the implementation of dark matter halo descriptions in the restricted N-body simulations of minga. I show that the final morphology of a galaxy encounter strongly depends on the halo properties. Thus, modeling tidal features of interacting galaxies might allow also for conclusions on the galactic dark matter content.