Silver Hatchetfish

Silver Hatchetfish (Gasteropelecus sternicla)

A fascinating South American schooling fish named for its distinctive hatchet-shaped body and silvery colouring. Silver Hatchetfish are peaceful, active surface dwellers that spend most of their time just beneath the waterline and are best kept in groups in a mature, securely covered aquarium.

Care at a Glance:

• Minimum Tank Size: 100L+ with open surface swimming space
• Temperature: 23–28°C
• pH Range: 5.5–7.5
• Temperament: Peaceful, schooling
• Diet: Omnivore — quality flakes and small floating pellets, supplemented with live or frozen foods such as mosquito larvae, daphnia and brine shrimp
• Max Size: 5–6cm
• Lifespan: 3–5 years
• Care Level: Beginner to intermediate

Tank Mates: Peaceful community fish such as tetras, rasboras, Corydoras and peaceful dwarf cichlids. Avoid aggressive or fin-nipping species that may stress or injure these delicate surface dwellers.

Origin: South America, particularly the Amazon and Orinoco River basins. They inhabit slow-moving and still waters, where they spend much of their time close to the surface.

Important: Hatchetfish are excellent jumpers, so a tightly fitted aquarium lid is essential.