TankBud

Blackwing hatchetfish

Carnegiella marthae

Also known as Marthae Hatchetfish

FreshwaterFish

Blackwing hatchetfish (Carnegiella marthae)
The original uploader was Dulcimerist at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 2.5

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–82°F
20–28°C
pH
5.5–7.0
Adult size
1.4 in
3.5 cm
Minimum tank
30 gal
115 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Shoaling
Swim level
Top
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Gasteropelecidae
Origin
Venezuela, Brazil

Overview

The blackwing hatchetfish is a small, peaceful shoaling fish for the surface of a covered tank. It suits a keeper with some experience.

Did you know

The blackwing hatchetfish is a true flyer, not a glider. It beats its wing-like pectoral fins fast enough to break the surface and travel a short distance through the air. It usually does this to escape something chasing it.

Caring for the blackwing hatchetfish

Keep at least six blackwing hatchetfish together in a tank of at least 30 gal (115 L) with plenty of surface area. They want surface cover and very still water, so add floating plants and keep the filter outflow gentle. A tight lid is non-negotiable, since these fish can fly out of the water.

Give them soft, acidic to neutral water at 68 to 82°F (20 to 28°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.0. They sit right at the top and eat from the surface. Offer floating flake, small frozen foods and live items such as fruit flies or mosquito larvae.

They are peaceful and best with calm tank mates. Captive breeding is rarely recorded.

Good to know

The blackwing hatchetfish is a small hatchetfish in the family Gasteropelecidae. Its deep, keel-shaped chest houses the muscles that power its oversized pectoral fins. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern.

In the wild

Blackwing hatchetfish live in slow tributaries and floodplain pools of the Amazon, mostly in Brazil and Venezuela. The water there is soft, acidic and stained dark with tannins. These fish stay up top among floating plants and roots.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The blackwing hatchetfish is a peaceful, shoaling species that keeps to the top. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a blackwing hatchetfish need?

A blackwing hatchetfish needs at least 30 gal (115 L). It spends most of its time in the top.

What temperature and pH does a blackwing hatchetfish need?

A blackwing hatchetfish is comfortable at 68–82°F (20–28°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.

What does a blackwing hatchetfish eat?

A blackwing hatchetfish eats from the surface. Offer floating flake, small frozen foods and live items such as fruit flies or mosquito larvae.

How big does a blackwing hatchetfish get?

An adult blackwing hatchetfish reaches about 1.4 in (3.5 cm).

Does a blackwing hatchetfish need a group?

Yes. A blackwing hatchetfish is a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

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