TankBud

Marbled hatchetfish

Carnegiella strigata

Also known as Marble hatchetfish

FreshwaterFish

Marbled hatchetfish (Carnegiella strigata)
SOK, Sven Kullander · CC BY-SA 4.0

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
32 gal
120 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Shoaling
Swim level
Top
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg scatterer
Rarity
Common
Family
Gasteropelecidae
Origin
South America

Overview

The marbled hatchetfish is a small, peaceful shoaling fish that lives at the very top of a soft-water tank. It suits a keeper with a little experience.

Did you know

The marbled hatchetfish is a true flyer, not just a jumper. It beats its pectoral fins and skims above the surface in a short burst to dodge predators. Flight like this is rare among fish, and it is the reason the family carries the hatchet name.

Caring for the marbled hatchetfish

Give marbled hatchetfish a tank of 32 gal (120 L) or more, so they have room to move. A dim, well-planted tank with floating plants suits them. They spend their time hugging the surface, so fit a tight lid.

Keep the water soft, warm and acidic, at 68 to 82°F (20 to 28°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.0. They take food from the top, so feed floating flakes and micro pellets. Add small live or frozen foods such as mosquito larvae and fruit flies.

Keep them in a group of at least six. Marbled hatchetfish are peaceful, so pair them with calm mid- and bottom-dwelling tank mates that need the same soft water. They are egg scatterers and give their eggs no care.

Good to know

The marbled hatchetfish belongs to Gasteropelecidae, the freshwater hatchetfishes. Its deep, keel-shaped chest houses oversized muscles that power the pectoral fins. The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern.

In the wild

Marbled hatchetfish come from slow, shaded streams and tributaries in the Amazon Basin, across Brazil, Peru and Colombia. The water there is soft, acidic and tea-stained, with floating plants and overhanging cover at the surface.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The marbled 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 marbled hatchetfish need?

A marbled hatchetfish needs at least 32 gal (120 L). It spends most of its time in the top.

What temperature and pH does a marbled hatchetfish need?

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

What does a marbled hatchetfish eat?

A marbled hatchetfish takes its food from the top, so feed it floating flakes and micro pellets. It also eats small live or frozen foods such as mosquito larvae and fruit flies.

How big does a marbled hatchetfish get?

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

Does a marbled hatchetfish need a group?

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

How does a marbled hatchetfish breed?

Marbled hatchetfish are egg scatterers, and the parents give the eggs no care.

Related species