Asian glass hatchetfish

Parachela oxygastroides

Also known as Asian glass flying hatchetfish, Glass barb, Asian glass flying hatchet fish

FreshwaterFish

Asian glass hatchetfish (Parachela oxygastroides) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 73–82°F (23–28°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Adult size: 7.9 in (20 cm)
Minimum tank: 79 gal (300 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Top
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Lowland rivers and swamps of Southeast Asia
Family: Cyprinidae

Overview

Despite the delicate look this is a large, fast surface schooler, so plan for a group in a big, long tank with plenty of open water near the top. Keep it with similarly sized, peaceful open-water fish; it will not bully tankmates but may snap up anything small enough to swallow. Feed floating and slow-sinking foods, small pellets and flake plus insects and frozen items it can take at or near the surface. A tight-fitting lid is essential, because it is a nervous, strong jumper. Give it at least 300 liters, and more for a full group.

In the wild

The Asian glass hatchetfish rides just under the surface film in slow-moving lowland rivers, swamps and floodplains across Indochina and the Sunda region. Mimic that with a long tank, an open surface, some floating plants for cover and gentle to moderate flow. Keep it warm at 23 to 28 degrees Celsius and slightly acidic to neutral, pH 6.0 to 7.5, with clean, well-filtered water.

Good to know

Parachela oxygastroides is a keel-bellied, nearly transparent cyprinid that reaches about 20 centimeters. Its deep, blade-like lower body and upturned mouth mark it as a surface specialist. In parts of Southeast Asia it is a food fish, netted and used in fermented fish products. It is seldom bred in captivity, and its spawning is undocumented.

Did you know

It is not a true hatchetfish at all. South America's hatchetfishes are characins, while this look-alike is a minnow relative, so two unrelated lineages evolved the same deep, keeled chest for life at the water's surface.

Tank mates

Asian glass hatchetfish is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the top. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.