Marbled Hatchetfish is a small freshwater fish from South America. This fish likes to eat various foods, including fruit flies, and prefers living in groups.
Its diet mainly consists of crustaceans and insects. When keeping this fish in an aquarium, it’s best to have a group of at least five individuals.
Marbled Hatchetfish can jump out of the tank, so choose an aquarium that is at least 80 cm (31 inches) long.
Marbled Hatchetfish Interesting Facts
- Marbled Hatchetfish is small, uniquely shaped freshwater fish from South America with a gold line and marble-like pattern.
- They eat crustaceans and insects, prefer living in groups, and females have larger abdomens than males.
- Their eggs incubate for 36 hours at 77°F (25°C) on vegetation or the bottom of aquariums that should be at least 80 cm (31 inches) long.
- These fish thrive in pH levels between 5.0 to 8.0 and temperatures between 75°F to 82°F (24°C to 28°C).
Marbled Hatchetfish Habitat
Marbled Hatchetfish comes from South America, specifically in the lower, middle, and upper Amazon River basins.
It’s also found south of the Amazon and in Colombia’s Caqueta River. It lives in freshwater environments and swims near the water’s surface.
This fish prefers a pH level between 5.0 to 8.0 and a water hardness (dH) range of 5 to 19.
The ideal temperature for this tropical fish is between 75°F to 82°F (24°C to 28°C).
| Water Temperature: | 75°F to 82°F (24°C to 28°C) |
| Water pH: | 5.0 to 8.0 pH |
| Water Hardness: | 5 to 19 dH |
Marbled Hatchetfish Physical Characteristics
Size: 1.4 inches (3.5 centimeters)
Marbled Hatchetfish grows up to 1.4 inches (3.5 centimeters) in body length.
It has a unique hatchet shape and features a gold line from its eye to its tail fin.
The area below the gold line has a brown and cream marble-like pattern, giving it its name.
Female Marbled Hatchetfish has larger abdomens compared to males.
Marbled Hatchetfish Reproduction
Marbled Hatchetfish is oviparous.
Eggs are laid on the bottom or on vegetation and get hatched after being incubated for 36 hours at 77°F (25°C).
Marbled Hatchetfish Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Characiformes |
| Family: | Gasteropelecidae |
| Genus: | Carnegiella |
| Scientific Name: | Carnegiella strigata |
| Also Known As: | Marbled Hatchetfish |
| Conservation Status: | Unknown |