Silver Hatchetfish

The Silver Hatchetfish is the only hatchet fish bred in captivity, and this is the hardiest of the hatchetfish family. Silver hatchets school at the top of the aquarium and eat flake food. These fish can jump, so we recommend a cover on the fish tank.

Hatchet fish are peaceful and may be kept with nano tank species.

Quick Facts

Care Guide

Tank setup: Hatchetfish live at the very surface, so give them floating plants, gentle filtration and a tight-fitting lid, since they are excellent jumpers.

Feeding: Feed a quality floating flake once or twice a day, only as much as they eat in a couple of minutes. They also enjoy small frozen foods like brine shrimp.

Tankmates: Hatchetfish are peaceful and get along with small community fish such as tetras, rasboras, corydoras and dwarf cichlids. Avoid fish that swim at the surface and might bully them.

Good to know: Hatchetfish feel safest in a group and stay near the surface, so floating plants give them cover.