The hatchetfish stands out for its looks. It comes with a belly that looks like a hatchet and thus the name hatchetfish. Because of the belly shape, you can often find the fish being a conversation starter for most people.
There are different types of hatchetfish available for purchase. They include river hatchetfish, silver hatchetfish, and more. These hatchetfish types have similar characteristics. As such, I will look at them in general in this guide.
Origin
Hatchetfish was mostly found in South America in countries such as Brazil. It would also be found in the Amazon tributaries. As such, you can always expect the natural habitat of the hatchetfish to look in a certain way.
The hatchet fish prefers its habitat to have plenty of surface vegetation. It is this surface vegetation that would be important to trap its food. They also feel like there is a place for them to retreat in case they are threatened.
It is possible to catch them from time to time flying out of the water to catch their prey. It is often fascinating to see them in action.
Appearance and Size
As expected, the hatchet fish comes with a hatchet shape that gives it its name. It is also a deep-bodied fish, making it look different from the other fish types you might be used to seeing.
This fish has an average size of 2.5 inches. And it has a lifespan of 2 to 5 years. The lifespan mostly depends on how well you care for it. You can always increase its lifespan if you keep it in a group. 8 or more fish should be ideal for the hatchetfish species.
The fish will have a white or silvery look with a black horizontal line that runs through its body’s center. Its mouth is noticeably located at the top of its head. This allows for proper surface feeding.
Difficulty in Keeping the Hatchetfish
Some might be wondering, is it hard to keep a hatchetfish? This is especially if you a new to keeping fish.
The hatchetfish is seen as a moderately hardy fish species. However, it is best recommended for aquarists with a bit of experience.
You will also note that the fish is easily susceptible to Ich. This is when you introduce it to a new home. It is why you are advised to acclimate the hatchetfish in a quarantine tank before you can introduce it to the rest of the community.
Tank Conditions
It is always vital to come up with the right tank conditions if you hope to keep the hatchetfish in good healthy condition.
For such a fish, it is best to keep them in a school of 6 or even more fish. For this case, keep the aquarium around 20 gallons. This should provide the fish with enough space to swim and feed easily.
The hatchetfish also loves water plants. However, it does not mean that you cover everything with the water plants. Leave some space to place the food and the hatchetfish will reach the top to eat it.
Ensure that the aquarium is also tightly sealed. This is because the fish can jump quite high, thinking it is in the wild. The proper sealing of the aquarium should help a lot in containing the hatchetfish.
As mentioned before, the hatchetfish can be prone to Ich. So, you should consider acclimating it to a quarantine tank first before transferring it to the new home.
The fish is also intolerant to harder and alkaline water. The water conditions need to be acidic and soft to help the hatchetfish thrive with ease.
Temperament and Social Behavior
Maybe you want to introduce tank mates to the hatchetfish tank. One thing you should know is that the hatchetfish is quite good as a community fish.
Many people find it shy, thus the reason you should avoid placing hostile tankmates in its environment. The best size would be having 6 to 8 hatchetfish in the same tank.
Other best tank mates include loricariid, Corydoras, tetras, and dwarf cichlids.
Care
Of course, there is the need to offer proper care. Luckily, the hatchet fish is not difficult to care for once it is used to the water conditions.
The aquariums need maintenance if you want to keep the fish healthy. That is why you have to consider bi-weekly water changes.
If you cannot maintain the tank right, you are likely to find that the decomposing organic matter, phosphates, and nitrates can easily build up in the tank. Also, there can be increased water hardness when the current water evaporates over time.
To combat some of these issues, it is advisable to change the water more frequently. You should consider changing 25 to 50% of the water in the tank every other week.
Diet and Food
The hatchetfish is known for being a carnivore. It mostly feeds on insects and crustaceans when in the wild.
You will also notice that they like eating surface foods, including mosquito larvae and vinegar flies. As such, it should be generally easy to find the right food for this type of fish species.
While keeping it in the aquarium, you can always find something to feed your fish. It can easily eat different types of living, flake, and fresh foods. So long as the food is on the water surface, the hatchetfish would be attracted to eat it.
You should consider giving the fish a good balance of protein, including brine shrimp, blood worms, and fruit flies, more often. It is even recommended that its food should contain proteins daily.
Breeding
The breeding difficulty largely depends on the hatchet fish type you decide to get for yourself. Some might be easy to breed, while others might not be so easy.
Fish Diseases
The most common condition that would affect a hatchetfish is the Ich. This is common when first introducing it to a new aquarium. It is why you would be advised to place it in a quarantine tank first before introducing it into a community tank.
You can also find that the fish is also susceptible to skin flukes, some parasitic infections, bacterial infections, and bacterial diseases. Do not worry so much about the health of a hatchetfish since it is commonly a hardy fish.
Availability
The hatchetfish is easily available. If you walk into a pet store right now, you are likely to come across this fish type. They might, however, be slightly more expensive than other fish types. Although, you should be able to like the hardiness that comes with a hatchetfish. So, the price does not bother many people since it is a hardy fish.
Conclusion
In case you like a fish that looks different, it would be nice to come across the hatchet fish. It will make it possible for you to find the best freshwater fish that you enjoy keeping generally. The fish is also easy to care for. Always follow the care tips mentioned above, and you should have nothing to worry about. That is why more people opt for a hatchetfish.
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