Views on Marbled Hatchet Fish.?

Question

I have been looking at Marbled hatchet fish for a while. What are your views on these fish? Should they be kept in groups if so how many fish? All views would be appreciated!

Answer 1

These are the most suicidal fish I have ever kept. No matter how many times I refined the top of my tank, they would find a way to jump out to the floor. They are happier and more active in groups. As singles, they don't seem to move much. They stay to the top level of the tank, no matter how bright a light you put on it. Mine liked brine shrimp, ocen nutrition formula 1 flakes, and blood worms. They seemed to really like the meaty foods & didn't care for veggies much.

I think they're a lovely addition to any community tank. I prefer the marbled over the silver. They seem to stay smaller, and they look better to me.

I've kept them from 6-15 in a tank at one time. It seems like the more there are, the more they'll play around with each other jockying for a comfortable spot to stay. If you only have one or two, they will pretty much stay in the same place & be a very boring fish.

I lost at least one or two a month to suicide. Their high fins & strong pectoral muscles propel them inches out of the water with ease. They're flying bug catchers in nature.

Answer 2

Deightful fish they are and cream of the hatchets and better than the bigger silvers although they need more care and attention. How many you should keep depends on the size of your tank. If it's 24x15 then a dozen should be alright. If it's 36x15 then two dozen. Put valis at each end but leave the middle clear. Hatchet fish if startled will flip out the tank and land on the floor so be sure to keep the lid on. Good luck with your marbled hatchets.

Answer 3

The unusual shape and movements of the hatchetfish family make them an attractive and unusual fish for fishkeepers. The Marbled Hatchetfish adds an attractive mottled pattern to this combination and is a well-recommended fish for the right aquarium. To keep these fish properly they should be provided with plenty of cover and hiding spots amongst plants, areas of flow, and preferably avoiding very hard water. Although they are a surface feeding fish, they require a varied diet of which flake food should make up no more than three quarters. The unusual shape is due to a large muscle, which the fish use to jump high distances above the water to avoid predators. Make sure the aquarium is well covered to avoid the fish jumping out. the minimum recommended is 5 but they are more active in larger groups.

Answer 4

Hatchets are schooling fish so you should have several 6+ would be ok. Keep the tank covered they are jumpers. They seem to like a surface current and feed at the surface.

Answer 5

They certainly do best in a group and like most a group of 6 or so seems to be the magic number. I think they can make a very interesting addition to the tank and fill a part of the tank all too often vacant, the very top water.

Answer 6

Hatchets are always fun to have. They require less TLC than most fish and also are quite active. They are best kept in groups of at least 3 as long as your tank is big enough to house them. Most will eat flake food but frozen bloodworms are always welcome.

Answer 7

I had these in my tank!! they are great in a community but to get the best out of them I would say get quite a few, they look much better in a school on the surface of the water than one or two!!!they don't get too big either!

Answer 8

They are great fish, but you must have a lid on your tank. They are great jumpers.

They are also quite jumpy, and it is best to keep them in a small group of at lest 4 ( 8 looks great).

Children love to look at their unsual shape.

Answer 9

I think that they are terrific fish and if i had extra room I would get some myself


Try http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=1027

Answer 10

Type in yahoo search tropicalfishfinder.co.uk you will find out everything you need to know.Good Luck