Silver Hatchetfish (Gasteropelecus sternicla)

From The Aquarium Wiki

Contents 1 Alternative names 1.1 Synonyms 2 Sexing 3 Tank compatibility 4 Diet 5 Feeding regime 6 Environment Specifics 7 Behaviour 8 Identification 9 Pictures 10 External links

Alternative names

Silver Hatchetfish, River Hatchetfish, Common Hatchetfish, Black-Lined Hatchetfish

Synonyms

Clupea sternicla, Gasteropelecus argenteus, Gasteropelecus coronatus

Sexing

Difficult to visually sex, the female will become more broad in the belly when she is holding eggs.

Tank compatibility

This is a peaceful shoaling fish and should be kept in groups of 5-6 or more. Best kept with other mid-bottom dwellers, as long as they're not fin nippers or bullies.

Diet

Should accept most meaty foods, is primarily an insectivore. Feed things like brine shrimp, mosquito larvae and bloodworm. Should also accept floating pellet foods.

Feeding regime

Feed once or twice a day.

Environment Specifics

Must be kept in a spacious tank with a very secure lid as these fish are known to jump.

Behaviour

An entirely-top dwelling peaceful fish.

Identification

A typical Hatchetfish shape with a very deep triangular body and wing-like pectoral fins. The body is silver in colour and may have some faint dark spots. There is a slender black line from the caudal peduncle to mid-way along the body to the pectoral fins. The bottom of the belly to the caudal should also be edged in black.

Pictures

External links

• Fishbase (Mirrors: )

• Badmans Tropical Fish
• The Tropical Tank