TankBud

Pygmy hatchetfish

Carnegiella myersi

FreshwaterFish

Pygmy hatchetfish (Carnegiella myersi)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–79°F
23–26°C
pH
5.5–7.0
Adult size
1 in
2.5 cm
Minimum tank
12 gal
45 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Shoaling
Swim level
Top
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg scatterer
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Gasteropelecidae
Origin
Peru, Bolivia

Overview

The pygmy hatchetfish is a tiny, peaceful fish that stays at the very top of the water. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

Hatchetfish are the closest thing to a flying fish in the hobby. The pygmy hatchetfish beats its wing-like pectoral fins to skim and leap across the surface, chasing insects or escaping danger.

Caring for the pygmy hatchetfish

Give pygmy hatchetfish a tank of 12 gal (45 L) or more, with a lot of surface area. They sit right at the top, so add surface cover and floating plants to make them feel secure. Keep the flow calm, and cover the tank fully with a tight lid that leaves no gaps.

Keep the water soft and acidic, at 73 to 79°F (23 to 26°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.0. They feed at the surface, so offer small floating foods and crushed flake. Add small live or frozen foods such as fruit flies and mosquito larvae.

Pygmy hatchetfish must live in a group, so keep six or more, and more if you can. They are peaceful, so pair them only with other peaceful fish that keep to the lower levels. They are egg scatterers with no parental care, and aquarium breeding is rarely recorded.

Good to know

The pygmy hatchetfish is a member of Gasteropelecidae, the freshwater hatchetfishes. Its deep, keel-like chest houses strong muscles that power the pectoral fins. It is listed as Least Concern.

In the wild

Pygmy hatchetfish come from slow streams and shallow, tannin-stained waters in Peru and Bolivia, usually under floating plants. The water there is soft and acidic.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The pygmy 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 pygmy hatchetfish need?

A pygmy hatchetfish needs at least 12 gal (45 L). It spends most of its time in the top.

What temperature and pH does a pygmy hatchetfish need?

A pygmy hatchetfish is comfortable at 73–79°F (23–26°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.

What does a pygmy hatchetfish eat?

A pygmy hatchetfish feeds at the surface on small floating foods and crushed flake. It also takes small live or frozen foods such as fruit flies and mosquito larvae.

How big does a pygmy hatchetfish get?

An adult pygmy hatchetfish reaches about 1 in (2.5 cm).

Does a pygmy hatchetfish need a group?

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

How does a pygmy hatchetfish breed?

Pygmy hatchetfish scatter their eggs and give them no parental care. Breeding them in an aquarium is rarely recorded.

Related species