Spotfin Hatchetfish
Thoracocharax stellatus
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 7 cm
- Minimum tank
- 243 litres
- Temperature
- 20–28 °C
Species profile
Silver Hatchetfish
Gasteropelecus sternicla
Common names: Silver Hatchetfish, River Hatchetfish, Common Hatchetfish
Recognized speciesHatchetfish
Adult size
Up to 4 cm
Typical adult length 3.5–4 cm.
Up to 4 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- A long, peaceful aquarium with a tight lid
- A soft-water community
- Adding movement near the surface
Think carefully if
- Your tank has gaps in the lid
- You keep boisterous or surface-feeding fish
- You have a short aquarium
A shimmering surface fish from South America with a deep, hatchet-shaped chest. It is peaceful but nervous, and it can jump several metres, so a tight lid is essential.
Appearance and Identification
A deep, laterally flattened, silver body with a dark line along the flank and long pectoral fins set high on the body.
The plain silver colour and dark flank line separate this fish from the Marbled Hatchetfish.
Females are noticeably rounder-bodied than males when full of eggs.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 440–550 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 100–175 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 110 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 120 cm
- Minimum group size
- 6
- Recommended group size
- 8
- Activity level
- Active
- Flow preference
- Low to moderate
- Planting preference
- Moderately planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- High
Provide a long surface area, floating plants at one end, and a tight lid with no gaps.
Behaviour and Tankmates
Peaceful, nervous, and shy. The group stays just below the surface.
Needs a group of at least six.
Not territorial.
Good with peaceful fish that use the middle and lower water. Avoid boisterous fish and strong surface feeders.
Water Parameters
Soft to moderately hard, slightly acidic water suits this fish.
Parameter caveat
Most fish in the trade are probably wild-caught, so quarantine them and acclimate slowly.
Feeding
- Diet types
- Insectivore, Omnivore
- Feeding frequency
- Once or twice daily
- Preferred foods
- Fine floating flake or small floating granulesThese fish feed at the surface and rarely go down for food, so use something that floats.
- Small insects such as fruit fliesClose to natural prey and readily taken from the surface.
- Frozen or live mosquito larvae, daphnia, and brine shrimpOffer near the surface a few times a week.
An insect-eater that takes small food from the surface.
Use floating foods, because this fish rarely feeds below the surface.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Egg Layer
- Breeding difficulty
- Not commonly bred
- Brood or egg count
- Not recorded
- Parental care
- Unknown
Breeding is unknown, and is probably similar to that of the Marbled Hatchetfish.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Amazon Basin, Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, South America, Suriname, Venezuela
- Natural habitat
- Freshwater River, Slow River, Vegetated Shoreline
- Aquarium contexts
- Planted Aquarium
- Audience level
- Intermediate
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Gasteropelecus
- Family
- Gasteropelecidae
- Species group
- Fish, Hatchetfish
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Black-winged Hatchetfish
Carnegiella marthae
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 2.8 cm
- Minimum tank
- 54 litres
- Temperature
- 20–28 °C
Marbled Hatchetfish
Carnegiella strigata
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 3–3.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 70 litres
- Temperature
- 20–28 °C
Pygmy Hatchetfish
Carnegiella myersi
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 2.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 45 litres
- Temperature
- 23–26 °C