Pet Care Home

Marbled Hatchetfish

River Hatchetfish

Family: GasteropelecidaePicture of a Marbled HatchetfishCarnegiella strigata
Latest Reader Comment - See More
I have had really bad trouble with my fish, he keeps attacking my other fish and everything that is in the tank. Apart from that he is really good  Lauren

   With its unusual 'hatchet' shaped body, the Marbled Hatchetfish is a very unique looking fish!

   The Marble Hatchetfish is a River Hatchetfish. Though quite original looking, it is very similar the Common Hatchetfish. Its differences are in a distinctive marbled coloring and being smaller.

   The Marbled Hatchetfish are a peaceful community fish, but not quite as hardy as the Common Hatchetfish. They will eat a flake food, but cannot survive on it alone. They must be fed proteins such as mosquito larvae and bloodworms. Because they are prone to ich, it is recommended that they be kept in a quarantine tank for a couple of weeks before introducing them to a community aquarium.

   Marbled Hatchetfish are also a schooling fish and should be kept in groups of 5 or more. They like to hang at the surface of the water and they like to jump, so keep a good top on the aquarium. These fish will appreciate some floating plants, but with their mouth situated up on top of their body you can see that the Marbled Hatchetfish must be used to eating at the surface. Be sure to provide some clear areas on the surface for them to feed!

   The hatchetfishes of the family Gasteropelecidae leap from the water and fly through the air, flapping their large pectoral fins to catch flying insects.. They are generally accepted as being the only true "flyingfish" as they are the only fish that move their pectoral fins to aid in their flight!

What's in the name?
  Gasteropelecus means   "hatchet-shaped belly"
  Carnegiella named after    Margaret Carnegie
  strigatas means   "streaked"

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium


Pet Supply Comparison Shopping
Geographic Distribution
Carnegiella strigata
Data provided by FishBase.org
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Characiformes
  • Family: Gasteropelecidae

Habitat: Distribution / Background

   The Marbled Hatchetfish or River Hatchetfish, was described by Günther in 1864. They are found in South America throughout the Amazon River basin, Lower, middle and upper, as well as the Caqueta River in Colombia.
   The Marbled Hatchetfish species Carnegiella strigata strigata are found in Iquitos, Peru. A similar hatchetfish, Carnegiella strigata fasciata are found Guyana. The fish from Guyana are supposed to be easier to keep but it is difficult to tell the difference between the species.

  • Scientific Name: Carnegiella strigata
  • Social Grouping: Groups - It is essential to keep hatchetfish in schools of 5 or more fish.
  • IUCN Red List: NE - Not Evaluated or not listed

Description

   The Marbled Hatchetfish is a small deep bodied fish with a 'hatchet' type shape to it. They are basically a white color with a black marble pattern which looks like black and white stripes running diagonally across them. They have a mouth situated close to the top for feeding at the surface.

  • Maximum Size: 1.5 inches (3.81 cm)

Fish Keeping Difficulty

  • Aquarium Hardiness: Moderately hardy - This fish is highly susceptible to Ich particularly when introduced to a new a aquarium. It is suggested that new purchases be kept in a quarantine tank.
  • Aquarist Experience Level: Intermediate

Foods and Feeding

   With their mouth situated up on top of their body you can see they are adapted to eating at the surface of the water. In the wild they will eat foods such as small vinegar flies and mosquito larvae. In the aquarium the Marbled Hatchetfish will generally eat all kinds of foods as long as it is on the surface of the water, however they will not survive with just a flake food. To keep a good balance give them a protein such as Black mosquito larvae, fruit flies, blood worms, or brine shrimp (either live or frozen) everyday.

  • Diet Type: Omnivore - Their diet should be supplemented with live foods.
  • Flake Food: Yes
  • Tablet Pellet: Yes
  • Live foods (fishes, shrimps, worms): Some of Diet
  • Vegetable Food: Some of Diet
  • Meaty Food: Some of Diet
  • Feeding Frequency: Several feedings per day

Aquarium Care

  • Water Changes: Bi-weekly

Aquarium Setup

  • Minimum Tank Size: 15 gal (57 L) - The tank should be tightly sealed as this fish is apt to jump out of the tank if provided the opportunity.
  • Substrate Type: Any
  • Lighting Needs: Moderate - normal lighting
  • Temperature: 75.0 - 82.0° F (23.9 - 27.8° C)
  • Range ph: 5.5-7.5
  • Hardness Range: 2 - 20 dGH
  • Brackish: No
  • Water Movement: Moderate
  • Water Region: Top - Marbled Hatchetfish will swim at the top of the aquarium. Notice how the mouth is at the top of the body.

Social Behaviors

   The Marbled Hatchetfish are always a good community fish.

  • Venomous: No
  • Temperament: Peaceful - This fish is relatively shy so it should be spared the company of hostile tankmates. It must absolutely be kept in a school.
  • Compatible with:
    • Same species - conspecifics: Yes
    • Peaceful fish (): Safe
    • Semi-Aggressive: (): Threat
    • Shrimps, Crabs, Snails: Safe - not aggressive
    • Plants: Safe

Sex: Sexual differences

   It is hard to tell, but if viewed from above the female is more plump and the eggs may be seen when the female is about to spawn.

Breeding / Reproduction

   Recommended conditions: Ph 5.5-6.5, 5° dGH.
   The Marbled Hatchetfish are egg layers. Add peat extract to darken the water until it is almost opaque and keep the lighting subdued. Feed small flying insects to induce them to spawn. (Fruit flies or Black mosquito larvae will work).
   The Marbled Hatchetfish will go through a long courtship after which the female will deposit eggs on plants and roots. The parents should be removed after spawning. The fry will hatch after 30 hours and become free swimming in 5 days. They must be fed finely powdered flake food (or similar; see baby fish foods) for the first 2 or three days but will eat baby brine thereafter.

   See the description of how to breed Characins in Breeding Freshwater Fish.

  • Ease of Propagation: Moderate

Availability

   The Marbled Hatchetfish is readily available and is less expensive than the Silver Hatchetfish.

References

Animal-World References
Freshwater Fish and Plants Tropical Fish ~ Freshwater Fish ~ Aquatic Plants

Author: David Brough, CFS


Silver Hatchetfish Silver Hatchetfish
Offered By: PetsMart
Price: $3.49
Compare products and prices!
Lastest Comments on Marbled Hatchetfish

Lauren - 2007-09-24
I have had really bad trouble with my fish, he keeps attacking my other fish and everything that is in the tank. Apart from that he is really good

Click For Replies (2)
  • wendy79 - 2011-06-15
    What kind of fish do you have? What is your tank enviroment like?
  • Charlie Roche - 2011-06-17
    You might want to remove the one fish and put him in another tank. What is the kind of sih that is attacking? He might not be a community fish or get along with others.
Reply
fish boy - 2011-02-18
I have two hatchets. Whenever I walk into the room they will swim to the middle region of the tank. Down toward the tetras. I know this isn't normal behavior. Should I be concerned?

Reply
Myrtle - 2009-03-27
I have over 37 fishies in my hugomongous tank. I only have 1 marble hatchet and he loves to eat spaghetti sauce flakes. I purchase them at my best friends store. It has dehydrated tomatoes in it. My fishies do NOT eat mosquito larve OR bloodworms. These fishies go with the flow and don't really need special attention. I believe it is a true waste to buy mosquito larve or bloodwoms. All my marble hatchets that I've had have lived at least 4 years. My daughter brought her favorite one, 007 to college with her. He is still living in her dorm room. Oh gawrsh I miss them so much. Anywho, these fishies are the easiest fishies I have ever had. Also, they don't really need to be in groups of 5 or more. Just one can live on it's own, like my elderly grandmother. DO NOT WASTE YOUR HARD-EARNED MOOLAH ON EXTRA SPECIAL CARE OR FOOD! I'M TELLING YOU PEOPLE IF YOU SPEND EXTRA CA-CHING ON THESE FISH YOU ARE INSANE! Thank ya'll sweeties.

Click For Replies (1)
  • friend - 2010-11-15
    You talk sense, good job.
Reply
Kathleen - 2010-07-27
I had a couple ( I didn't know any better, I was only 12 ) in my first aquarium many years ago and they did very well. But these are schooling fish - it's unkind to keep less than 5-6. Some people seem to equate surviving with living a good life. Most humans aren't hermits and if kept in solitary confinement are pretty miserable. What makes you think an animal that has evolved to live in social groups wouldn't be miserable without others of it's species. They swim in schools for protection from predation - on their own they must not feel fully comfortable. So even if one hatchet can survive alone I wouldn't do it to them.
And I feed live foods to improve their quality of life also. There are some pretty good flake/pellet foods available now but I feel my fish enjoy live foods.

Click For Replies (1)
  • my own - 2010-11-15
    What is a hatchet fishes favorite defense?
    A hatchet! hahahaha! Hope you like the joke!
Reply
grayson berry - 2009-09-12
In my experience, hatchet fish are indestructible. I have two that have survived all the cruelties that an inexperienced person can unleash on them and have survived where all others have fallen... Literally. Last night my wife noticed that one of them was missing and I found the poor fish behind the table I have my ten gallon tank on (It had jumped through a hole the size of a golfball). I went to take him to the Flushing Meadows Funeral Home when the tough little guy twitched in my hand. I removed all the dust and hair from him and put him back in the tank. Turns out he's fine. Neither have had anything but flake food, by the way, but I love them and will go get them some treats today. Thanks for the article.

Reply
jonathan - 2007-07-30
I have had 4 marbled hatchetfish for 3 months now and they turned out to be perfect fish. For the first 7 to 10 days they had trouble getting food because because of the other fish getting to it first. After that they managed to get some food and I was reassured they would survive. My favorite thing about them is how they school together. There shape also helps them stand out a lot. They are great fish for a community tank.

Reply

Click to see more Characins
Back to Characins

Connect with us on Facebook Watch us on YouTube Follow us on Twitter

Click to see Royal Python - Boris
Royal Python - Boris
by Lucylemonpip
Click to see Bearded Dragons
Bearded Dragons
by taylor

 
After installing a newsreader, click on this icon to download Animal-World XML/RSS feed.After installing a newsreader, click on this icon to download Animal-World XML/RSS feed.

International Index Pages
[French] [German] [Japanese] [Portuguese] [Spanish] [Russian] [Simplified Chinese] [Traditional Chinese]


Copyright © [Animal-World] 1998-2011. All rights reserved.
Using cached version