Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Live Plant Safe: Yes
General Description: The Marble Hatchetfish is an extremely popular fish due to its unique shape. Endemic to many river systems throughout South America, the majority of individuals collected for the aquarium trade come from the rio Negro basin in Brazil. Like other hatchetfish, the Marble hatchet has a slender body with a deep belly, pectoral fins set high on its body and an upturned mouth characteristic of surface feeders. The Marble hatchet has a shimmering tan-brown body with various darker patches. Marble hatchets do best when kept in groups of 6 or more individuals. An adult Marble hatchet can reach a size of approximately 1.75″.
Diet Requirements: In the wild Marble hatchets are carnivores, feeding on microinvertebrates and zooplankton at the surface. A diet made up of various high quality protein based flake foods or floating pellet foods are ideal, in addition to offering bug bites and frozen foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp and daphnia. Variety is the spice of life in order to maintain color, immune function and longevity of your fish.
Care Requirements: An established minimum 15 to 20 gallon aquarium is ideal for a group of Marble hatchets. A tight fitting lid is highly suggested because some individuals are known to jump. Marble hatchets are intolerable of nitrite or ammonia spikes. Weekly water changes are encouraged to keep water parameters pristine (Nitrates < 15 ppm). Given the blackwater environments in which they come from, Marble hatchets like gentle water flow, a more acidic pH and tannin-stained water. Tannins can be achieved by the use of driftwood or leaf litter, such as Indian almond leaves. The aquarium should be aquascaped with a fine substrate and dense vegetation (whether artificial or live, though live plants are preferred). Marble hatchets would also benefit from some floating plants to take shelter underneath. Marble hatchets are extremely peaceful and rarely conflict with tank mates. Their timid nature, however, may make them not suitable for community aquariums that have overly rambunctious species. Given that hatchetfish are always out and about, they could serve as a “dither” fish for more shy fish species. Recommended water conditions, 76-82° F, KH 10-18, pH 4.0-7.0.
Purchase Size:Â Medium: 1” to 1-1/4”
Note: Your item may not look identical to the image provided due to variation within species. Purchase sizes are approximate.
