Here is a list of food to make your Silver hatchets happy:
- Bloodworms
- Brine shrimp
- Flightless fruit flies
- Daphnia
- Pinhead crickets
- Tubifex
What do hatchetfish eat?
Freshwater hatchetfish are carnivores by nature, feeding on insects and crustaceans in their natural habitat. These fish are particularly well adapted to eating small insects from the surface of the water since their mouths are located on the top of their bodies.
What do you feed a silver hatchetfish?
Silver Hatchetfish are carnivores and will appreciate floating sources of protein. You can provide meaty foods that are frozen, freeze-dried, or live, such as blackworms, bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia, mosquito larvae, fruit flies, and tubifex. They will also accept flake food.
What makes a good tank mate for a common hatchetfish?
The peaceful Common Hatchetfish makes a better community tank mate than Silver Hatchetfish since the Common is not as shy as the Silver, so they won’t get stressed out by having other species sharing their space. Nonetheless, avoid aggressive fish that might threaten Common Hatchetfish or steal their food.
Are hatchetfish hardy fish?
Maintenance and Care Hatchetfish are a moderately hardy group of fishes that is best for experienced or intermediate-level aquarium hobbyists. Though these fish can adapt to a range of water conditions, they are highly susceptible to Ich and they have a tendency to jump so they need a covered tank.

What do you feed a marbled hatchetfish?
They will not survive on just a flake food. To keep a good balance, give them a protein such as Black mosquito larvae, fruit flies, blood worms, or brine shrimp (either live or frozen) every day. The foods fed to these fish need to stay at the surface longer than most.
What do Silver Hatchetfish eat?
The most readily accepted live foods are wingless fruit flies, daphnia, blackworms and gut loaded brine shrimp. Their taste in frozen foods is nearly identical to their live food preferences, and they will greedily accept frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia, and blackworms.
What do marine hatchetfish eat?
Deep sea hatchetfish eats plankton, crustaceans and tiny fish. They swim toward the surface of the water to find food. Feeding takes place during the night.
Do hatchetfish eat plants?
Silver Hatchetfish are carnivores and will appreciate floating sources of protein. You can provide meaty foods that are frozen, freeze-dried, or live, such as blackworms, bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia, mosquito larvae, fruit flies, and tubifex.
How do you feed hatchetfish?
Food and Tankmates Common hatchetfish are devout carnivores; vegetative matter does not, to any appreciable measure, factor into their natural dietary regimen. Feed protein-rich flakes, brine shrimp, tubifex, bloodworms, or small, floating, carnivore pellets.
Do hatchetfish like duckweed?
Hatchetfish and Aquatic Plants What is this? Floating plants like red root floaters, duckweed, and salvia all give ample cover to these fish.
Can hatchetfish live with guppies?
Guppies and hatchetfish are different in temperament, water requirements, and diet, yet they can get along with each other. It takes some planning and monitoring to make sure everything clicks and that both species are comfortable and acceptant of each other.
How big do freshwater hatchetfish get?
2 1/2 inchesWhen fully grown, freshwater hatchetfish range in size from 1 inch up to 2 1/2 inches. One exception is the Giant Hatchetfish Thoracocharax securis which can grow up to 3 1/2 inches. The smallest being the Dwarf Hatchetfish Carnegiella schereri which only grows to about 1 inch.
What eats the deep sea hatchetfish?
Quick FactsDiscoverySternoptyx diaphana first described by Johann Hermann, 1781Eats what?Ostracods, copepods, small crustaceans, fish larvaeEats how?Some less-abundant species migrate to the surface at night to feedIs eaten by?Larger fish such as tuna and lancetfish6 more rows
How long does a hatchetfish live?
around five yearsTypical lifespan in captivity is around five years, but can live longer. They come from streams in a tropical climate and prefer water at pH 6–7, a water hardness of up to 15.0 dGH, and an ideal temperature range of (23-27 °C (73-81 °F) .
Are hatchetfish Hardy?
The Common Hatchetfish is moderately hardy but recommended for aquarists with some experience. They are very susceptible to Ich, particularly when introduced to a new home. Newly acquired specimens should be acclimated in a quarantine tank before they are introduced into a community.
How big do marbled Hatchetfish get?
The marbled hatchetfish (Carnegiella strigata) is a small, normally 3.5 cm (1.4 in) in length, freshwater ray-finned fish native to South America. Hatchet shaped, it presents a gold line extending from its eye to its caudal fin while the area below has a brown and cream colored marble-like pattern (hence its name).
Do hatchet fish go to school?
In the aquarium The river hatchetfish is a schooling species best kept in groups of five or more that spends most of its time in the top-level of the water where it searches for food. These fish are peaceful towards other fishes, but frequently bicker among themselves.
Are silver Hatchetfish schooling fish?
The Silver Hatchetfish is a schooling fish that will typically only settle into an aquarium when it is in a school of at least 6 fish.
How big do marbled Hatchetfish get?
The marbled hatchetfish (Carnegiella strigata) is a small, normally 3.5 cm (1.4 in) in length, freshwater ray-finned fish native to South America. Hatchet shaped, it presents a gold line extending from its eye to its caudal fin while the area below has a brown and cream colored marble-like pattern (hence its name).
How do hatchets mate?
0:155:24How to Breed Hatchet Fish-Sexing-Raising - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut if you're looking to breed hatchets you want to do the marbled. Hatchets. These guys just aMoreBut if you're looking to breed hatchets you want to do the marbled. Hatchets. These guys just a normal egg scattering like you know egg layer.
Where do hatchetfish live?
Silver hatchetfish are only found in the lower Amazon River basin in Brazil, and they inhabit streams, canals, and the shallow, dark waterways deep in the Amazon forest known as igarapés.
What is a silver hatchetfish?
The Silver Hatchetfish (Gasteropelecus levis) is one of the more unique looking freshwater fish in the aquarium hobby , and its unusual body shape and attractive coloration makes it highly sought after by aquarists. The name ‘hatchetfish’ originates from its laterally compressed body, which resembles the head of a hatchet.
What are some live foods that flies eat?
The most readily accepted live foods are wingless fruit flies, daphnia, blackworms and gut loaded brine shrimp. Their taste in frozen foods is nearly identical to their live food preferences, and they will greedily accept frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia, and blackworms.
How long do silver hatchets live?
In captivity, there have been reports of them living up to five years, though on average, most tend to live for around three years.
What do fish eat?
These fish primarily feed on insects near the water’s surface, although they are also known to consume larvae, crustaceans and worms. With that being said, the vast majority of their diet is composed of insects (upwards of 90% in the wild), and this diet should be recreated as closely as possible in the home aquarium.
Can silver hatchetfish eat dried fish?
Most silver hatchetfish are reluctant to take prepared fish foods, but can be trained to eat them over time. When offering them dried food, I have found one of the very best is Hikari Micro Pellets, which promotes vibrant colors and has only the highest quality ingredients.
Can silver hatchetfish live with bronze corydoras?
However, silver hatchetfish may do well with peaceful bottom dwellers, such as bronze corydoras and bristlenose plecos – both of which make excellent tankmates for them. Silver hatchetfish should be kept in groups of at least six. If they aren’t, they will often become highly stressed, and can even become ill.
How many groups of hatchetfish should I keep?
Black-winged hatchetfish are a schooling fish, and should always be kept in groups of at least 6. But with that being said, they seem to be healthier and more active when kept in larger groups, so it’s usually best to aim for groups of 8 or more when keeping these fish.
What is a black-winged hatchetfish?
The black-winged hatchetfish ( Carnegiella marthae) is a small, peaceful freshwater fish, noted for its unusual body shape. Its laterally compressed body resembles the head of a hatchet, and actually gave rise to its name – the hatchetfish.
Is a black-winged hatchetfish an omnivore?
Black-winged hatchetfish are predators in the wild, with upwards of 90% of their diet being composed of flying insects and crustaceans. But they are still omnivores, and they can adapt well to prepared foods in a home aquarium.
What is it called when you feed a newly hatched fish?
The main concern in feeding newly hatched fish (called “fry”) is finding food small enough for these tiny fish to get their mouths around. This demands some work on your part, but since young fish grow quickly, within a few weeks they’ll be able to eat whatever you’re feeding your other fish.
How to feed worms to fish?
In a few days you will have a growing culture of worms. To feed these to your fish, take a pinch of them up and drop them in the tank, or use a tweezers to grab them . They will fall in a bundle to the bottom of the tank where you can watch your fish feed on them.
How to feed infusoria?
To feed your fish, take up some of the water with a turkey baster or eye-dropper and drip the infusoria into your fry tank. Begin with a few drops and feed several times a day. If you see your fry tank becoming cloudy, make a water change and cut back on the number of feedings. The infusoria will last for several days, ...
How to feed livebearers?
By the time these fish are released from the body of the mother they are usually large enough to feed on pulverized flake food. Use a mortar and pestle to crush the food into a very fine powder. Sprinkle a pinch of this powder into the fry tank. This may not seem like a lot, but with fry, even more than with adults, frequent small feedings are best. Try feeding this pinch of food several times a day. If the tank begins to get cloudy, make a water change and cut back on the amount of food.
What is the first food that fish need?
These fish will need the smallest food you can give them and the first food of choice are microscopic, single-celled organisms called protozoans.
How to feed fish sterile water?
Since all but the most sterile water contains some protozoa, what you need to do is culture them in the quantity needed to feed your fish. Take a clean gallon jar and fill it about 75 percent full of chlorine-free water. Put a few rotting lettuce leaves into the water and let it stand for a day uncovered.
Can live brine shrimp be eaten?
Live brine shrimp make a good addition to their diet. And prepared foods for livebearer fry may be purchased from the pet store. As the fish grow, increase the size of the crushed flake and decrease the frequency of feedings. Some young will grow faster than others and the larger ones may begin to prey on the smaller ones.
Origin
Hatchetfish was mostly found in South America in countries such as Brazil. It would also be found in the Amazon tributaries. As such, you can always expect the natural habitat of the hatchetfish to look in a certain way.
Appearance and Size
As expected, the hatchet fish comes with a hatchet shape that gives it its name. It is also a deep-bodied fish, making it look different from the other fish types you might be used to seeing.
Difficulty in Keeping the Hatchetfish
Some might be wondering, is it hard to keep a hatchetfish? This is especially if you a new to keeping fish.
Tank Conditions
It is always vital to come up with the right tank conditions if you hope to keep the hatchetfish in good healthy condition.
Temperament and Social Behavior
Maybe you want to introduce tank mates to the hatchetfish tank. One thing you should know is that the hatchetfish is quite good as a community fish.
Care
Of course, there is the need to offer proper care. Luckily, the hatchet fish is not difficult to care for once it is used to the water conditions.
Diet and Food
The hatchetfish is known for being a carnivore. It mostly feeds on insects and crustaceans when in the wild.
Tight-fitting lead
This is the most important thing with the Hatchetfish, they have to have a top. They are built like skipping stones, if you don't have any cover they will shoot right out of the tank. They love to catch insects above the water, so if you don't have a top you will not be able to keep them for long.
Diet
Since you know that they like to jump out of the water, so you will also know now that they want food at top of the water. When you feed them you want food that can stay at the top for a long time. It can be tiny pellets, that can be frozen cubes, or bloodworms, flake food, anything that just can stay at the top for as long as possible.
Water Parameters
pH should be between 6-8 or above, it is good to keep it stable at 7.6-7.8.
Thriving Hactes in you tank
This way they will already be healthy when they get into our aquarium and they can really be happy and thrive. A minimum of 20-gallon tank is required to home the smaller Hatchetfish, but for the bigger ones, you will surely need a bigger tank.
Why do hatchetfish need a filter?
Filter. You would have to invest in a strong filter for the freshwater tank where you keep your Hatchetfish because they need a continuous supply of clean water. Else, they will develop sickness and perish away sooner than expected. So, purchase a decent filter for their tank.
What is hatchetfish breeding?
Breeding of Hatchetfish. Summary. One of the most unique looking freshwater fish out there , Hatchetfish have been adored by fishkeepers around the globe. Watching these little predators roam around your aquarium is truly a delightful experience. But, with good, comes the hard work.
Why are hatchetfish shy?
Hatchetfish are extremely shy by nature, which is why we strongly suggest not to disturb them by knocking on the aquarium walls or flashing lights on them. This would cause a lot of stress to them, thereby deteriorating their health. For the same reason, they spend a considerable amount of their time hiding.
How many species of hatchetfish are there?
To be specific, there are nine separate species of Hatchetfish that exist across three genera. The most common types of Hatchetfish are as follows: Silver Hatchetfish, scientifically known as Gasteropelecus levis. Common Hatchetfish, scientifically known as Gasteropelecus sternicla.
How long does it take for hatchetfish eggs to break?
The eggs break in 5-8 days after being fertilized. Generally, the female Hatchetfish continues to look after the fries. The fries generally have a yellow yolk sac under their bellies that disappears after a few days. In a span of few month, they look like offspring of their parents.
How do hatchetfish get their name?
Appearance of Hatchetfish. Hatchetfish derive their name from the fact that they look like a hatchet which gives them a triangular profile, which is why viewing them is such a pleasurable experience. Prominent among their feature are their wing-like fins which makes the excellent swimmers.
Where do hatchetfish live?
Native to Central and South America, Hatchetfish mostly thrive in the Amazonian River basin. You can find them in various water bodies such as streams, rivers, swamps, tributaries, pools and canals. Sometimes, during the rainy season, they even pop in floodplain lakes.
What is the best way to keep hatchetfish in an aquarium?
Hatchetfish are a very popular addition to aquariums, however, it is important to remember that this is fish that lives under the forest canopy. Provide a large aquarium with subdued or dimmed LED lighting. Use plant species that grow up to the surface of the water to simulate their natural environment.
How long does it take for hatchetfish to eat their parents?
However, hatchetfish parents will actively eat the fry as soon as they hatch, so remove the parents within 24 hours. Also, make sure the plants used in a breeding tank are free of snails as fish eggs are a snail's favorite food.
How many species of hatchetfish are there?
Of the genus commonly referred to as hatchetfish, a total of three species are known, Carnegiella myersi, Carnegiella marthae, and Carnegiella strigata. Only Carnegiella strigata is commonly known and represented by not less than five sub-species, which are commonly seen today in aquarium stores.
How do hatchetfish get their name?
Hatchetfish get their name from their peculiar shape. From the side, they look like triangles that are rounded only at the bottom, not unlike the shape of a hatchet. From the front, they are thinner than a cracker, tapering to a wedged knife-edge along the belly.
What is a hatchet fish?
Few people know about the amazing little freshwater flying fish, better known as the hatchetfish. Likewise, many aquarists who keep these popular fish have also never learned of their flying ability, which is really quite remarkable for their small size. In nature, hatchetfish make long, gliding flights using their powerful “wing-like” fins ...
What is a larva eater?
In nature, they are insect eaters and larva eaters taking terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates and other zooplankton taken at or near the water surface. They are very effective in keeping mosquito populations down .
How long does it take for a frog to hatch?
The sticky scattered eggs cling to these fine-leaved plants. The rearing of the fry, which hatch after 24-30 hours, is not difficult.
What is a hatchet fish?
Hatchetfish General Description. Freshwater hatchetfish are a type of ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Gasteropelecidae. These fish are divided into three genera with a total of nine different species with the Common Hatchetfish (Gasteropelecus sternicla) being the most common. In general, they are peaceful schooling fish ...
What temperature do hatchet fish need?
These fish come from a tropical or semi-tropical environment so they require a tank temperature in the 72°F to 82°F range with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5 and a water hardness in the 2 to 15 dGH range. In terms of habitat, these fish prefer clean water with some floating plants but plenty of room to swim at the surface of the water.
What do fish eat in aquariums?
In the home aquarium, they should be fed a diet of carnivore flakes, pellets or granules as well as live and frozen foods.
Can peaceful schooling fish get along with other peaceful species?
In general, they are peaceful schooling fish that can be kept in community tanks with other community species. Though these fish can get along with other peaceful species, males of the same species sometimes have trouble getting along.
Can hatchetfish breed in aquariums?
There are very few physical differences between male and female, so sexing these fish is difficult. They are egg layers but some species like the Common Hatchetfish are very difficult to breed in the home aquarium. The Mar bled Hatchetfish, on the other hand, breeds quite readily in the home aquarium.
