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Common hatchetfish

Gasteropelecus sternicla

Also known as Silver hatchetfish

FreshwaterFish

Common hatchetfish (Gasteropelecus sternicla)
Neale Monks at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–82°F
20–28°C
pH
5.5–7.0
Adult size
1.6 in
4 cm
Minimum tank
33 gal
125 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Shoaling
Swim level
Top
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg scatterer
Rarity
Rare
Family
Gasteropelecidae
Origin
Brazil

Overview

The common hatchetfish is a small, peaceful surface fish for a covered tank with room up top. It takes a little experience to keep well.

Did you know

The common hatchetfish can launch out of the water and beat its pectoral fins to skim across the surface. In the wild, this short burst helps it break away from a chasing predator.

Caring for the common hatchetfish

Keep common hatchetfish in a tank of at least 33 gal (125 L) with room at the surface. They spend their whole life right at the top and rarely come down, so the top of the tank matters most. A covered tank is not optional, so fit a tight lid. Add some floating plants for cover, and keep the flow gentle.

Aim for 68 to 82°F (20 to 28°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.0, on the acidic to neutral side. They take small floating foods, flake and tiny live or frozen insects.

Keep them in a group of at least six, since they get jumpy and stressed alone. They are peaceful with calm tank mates. They are egg scatterers, but there is no recorded captive breeding success to speak of.

Good to know

The common hatchetfish belongs to the Gasteropelecidae, the freshwater hatchetfishes. It gets its name from the deep, keel-shaped chest that holds its oversized pectoral muscles. Most shops sell it as the silver hatchet, but the silver hatchetfish proper is Gasteropelecus levis. That near twin needs the same care.

In the wild

Common hatchetfish come from slow, shaded streams in the Amazon Basin, mostly around Brazil. The streams hold leaf litter and overhanging plants, and the water is soft, acidic and stained brown with tannins.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The common 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 common hatchetfish need?

A common hatchetfish needs at least 33 gal (125 L). It spends most of its time in the top.

What temperature and pH does a common hatchetfish need?

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

What does a common hatchetfish eat?

A common hatchetfish takes small floating foods, flake and tiny live or frozen insects.

How big does a common hatchetfish get?

An adult common hatchetfish reaches about 1.6 in (4 cm).

Does a common hatchetfish need a group?

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

How does a common hatchetfish breed?

Common hatchetfish are egg scatterers. There is no recorded captive breeding success to speak of.

Related species