Hatchett Fish
- Thread starter emmzer
- Start date
DarkEntity
Eater Of The Fishies!!!
yes i have kept them in the past, nice community fish. Just make sure your tank has a secure lid as they do leap from the water.
<-- Marble Hatchet
Google for some more pictures.
Google for some more pictures.
nmonks
A stroke of the brush does not guarantee art from
Hatchetfish (Thoracocharax, Gasteropelecus, and Carnegiella spp.) all belong to a small family of characin relatives known as the Gateropelecidae that are only found in South America. Broadly speaking, they are semi-delicate, schooling fish that feed on things that fall on the surface of the aquarium. Most will take flake, but anecdotal evidence often suggests that regular feedings of things like frozen bloodworms and live insects are helpful.
They're great fish. I have an article in this month's TFH Magazine about these and other surface-dwelling fish. Of the various species sold, only two are particularly common, the marble hatchet and the silver hatchet. The marble hatchet is smaller, mottled brown, and not easy to keep unless you have soft water and live/frozen food. The silver hatchet is bigger, somewhat more robust, and a midwater fish in a calm aquarium. Mine spend all their time at about 15 cm below the surface.
Silver hatchets are hierarchical among themselves, and will chase each other about unless kept in large groups (6 or more, so a lot like tiger barbs). While no harm is done, the first time you see them lunge at each other you might be a bit alarmed. Marble hatchets are much more peaceful, but they are also more shy, and should really be kept with fish of similar size.
None of the hatchets is a fin-nipper.
As DarkEntity said, these fish jump. Floating plants help a lot by inhibiting their jumping behaviour. Even in a covered tank, if they fling themselves at the hood, they can harm themselves. Mine are forever losing scales this way.
All in all, they're great fish. Unusual, but worth the extra effort. But not "bullet proof" schooling fish for someone who wants fish that will put up with anything. These need care with their diet, attention to water chemistry, and carefully chosen tankmates.
Cheers,
Neale
They're great fish. I have an article in this month's TFH Magazine about these and other surface-dwelling fish. Of the various species sold, only two are particularly common, the marble hatchet and the silver hatchet. The marble hatchet is smaller, mottled brown, and not easy to keep unless you have soft water and live/frozen food. The silver hatchet is bigger, somewhat more robust, and a midwater fish in a calm aquarium. Mine spend all their time at about 15 cm below the surface.
Silver hatchets are hierarchical among themselves, and will chase each other about unless kept in large groups (6 or more, so a lot like tiger barbs). While no harm is done, the first time you see them lunge at each other you might be a bit alarmed. Marble hatchets are much more peaceful, but they are also more shy, and should really be kept with fish of similar size.
None of the hatchets is a fin-nipper.
As DarkEntity said, these fish jump. Floating plants help a lot by inhibiting their jumping behaviour. Even in a covered tank, if they fling themselves at the hood, they can harm themselves. Mine are forever losing scales this way.
All in all, they're great fish. Unusual, but worth the extra effort. But not "bullet proof" schooling fish for someone who wants fish that will put up with anything. These need care with their diet, attention to water chemistry, and carefully chosen tankmates.
Cheers,
Neale
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