Post by MADMIKE on Apr 9, 2007 16:35:31 GMT -5
Marbled Hatchet
Carnegiella strigata
Size: 1 1/2 inches (5 cm)
Tank: 24 inches, 10 gallon
Tank Level: Top dweller
Strata: top
pH: 5.5 to 7.5
Hardness: soft to medium
dH range: 5-18
Temperature: 75 to 82ºF (24-28°C)
Family: Gasteropelecidae
Origin: Brazil, Guyana, Surinam
Social: Peaceful
Community Tank: Yes
Lifespan: 5 years
Diet: Carnivore, prefers insects
Breeding: Egglayer, Difficult
Care: Intermediate
Classification
Order: Cypriniformes
Suborder: Characoidei
Family: Gasteropelecidae
Genera: Carnegiella
General Body Form
Not your typical fish shape. The belly profile from the small ventral fins to the start of the
tail fin is almost a straight line.
Has a convex body. The dorsal fin itself is far back very close to the tail. The
transparent pectoral fins are half as long as the body, turned upward and face back
which give them the look of wings.
Coloration
The coloration is usually silver with black patches. Depending on the angle of light, the
colors can change from iridescent green to iridescent violet.
A horizontal stripe, yellow in color, extends along the top of the fish.
The back itself is a dark Black or Brown color. The fins are transparent with a slight
golden hue to them.
Maintenance
Hatchets are a peaceful fish, recommended for community tanks with other calm fish,
that swim in the lower water levels
They must be kept in schools of at least four or they seem to decline and have a much
shorter lifespan.
They are excellent jumpers so make sure you have a tight fitting cover with as few gaps
as possible.
They will do well in a tank that has good filtration and a current that runs the length of
the tank to simulate a stream. It should be arranged in dark colors and have floating
plants to diffuse the light. It is recommended to leave a 4-6" (10-15 cm) gap between
the water surface and the cover.
Floating plants as well as driftwood and open areas for swimming are needed.
Their diet should ideally consist of live mosquito larvae and fruit flies although the freeze
dried kind are also taken. They will also eat the standard flake food.
Breeding
No external differences between the sexes are apparent, although the females are
generally more rounded in the body and sometimes the white eggs can be seen in the
body cavity.
They have been bred in soft water of about slightly acidic with a pH. around 6.0. The
prospective pair should be well conditioned with a diet of black mosquito larvae and
other small crustaceans.
They deposit their eggs on the floating plants. The parents should be removed after
spawning.
The fish will spawn frequently if fed the proper diet of small flying insects.
Eggs will hatch in about thirty hours and will be free swimming after five days.
The fry are very small and have to be feed very fine foods like Infusoria, baby brine and
crushed flakes.
The young begin to take adults shape after 20 days, and swim at all tank levels.
Notes
• Most Hatchetfish are wild-caught and thus susceptible to disease, especially "Ich"
when first introduced to the aquarium. It is wise to quarantine fish before adding
them to the main tank.
• These fish have the unique ability to glide over the water surface by rapidly beating
its pectoral fins.
• The Marbled Hatchetfish can leave the water and "fly" for up to 10 feet.
Carnegiella strigata
Size: 1 1/2 inches (5 cm)
Tank: 24 inches, 10 gallon
Tank Level: Top dweller
Strata: top
pH: 5.5 to 7.5
Hardness: soft to medium
dH range: 5-18
Temperature: 75 to 82ºF (24-28°C)
Family: Gasteropelecidae
Origin: Brazil, Guyana, Surinam
Social: Peaceful
Community Tank: Yes
Lifespan: 5 years
Diet: Carnivore, prefers insects
Breeding: Egglayer, Difficult
Care: Intermediate
Classification
Order: Cypriniformes
Suborder: Characoidei
Family: Gasteropelecidae
Genera: Carnegiella
General Body Form
Not your typical fish shape. The belly profile from the small ventral fins to the start of the
tail fin is almost a straight line.
Has a convex body. The dorsal fin itself is far back very close to the tail. The
transparent pectoral fins are half as long as the body, turned upward and face back
which give them the look of wings.
Coloration
The coloration is usually silver with black patches. Depending on the angle of light, the
colors can change from iridescent green to iridescent violet.
A horizontal stripe, yellow in color, extends along the top of the fish.
The back itself is a dark Black or Brown color. The fins are transparent with a slight
golden hue to them.
Maintenance
Hatchets are a peaceful fish, recommended for community tanks with other calm fish,
that swim in the lower water levels
They must be kept in schools of at least four or they seem to decline and have a much
shorter lifespan.
They are excellent jumpers so make sure you have a tight fitting cover with as few gaps
as possible.
They will do well in a tank that has good filtration and a current that runs the length of
the tank to simulate a stream. It should be arranged in dark colors and have floating
plants to diffuse the light. It is recommended to leave a 4-6" (10-15 cm) gap between
the water surface and the cover.
Floating plants as well as driftwood and open areas for swimming are needed.
Their diet should ideally consist of live mosquito larvae and fruit flies although the freeze
dried kind are also taken. They will also eat the standard flake food.
Breeding
No external differences between the sexes are apparent, although the females are
generally more rounded in the body and sometimes the white eggs can be seen in the
body cavity.
They have been bred in soft water of about slightly acidic with a pH. around 6.0. The
prospective pair should be well conditioned with a diet of black mosquito larvae and
other small crustaceans.
They deposit their eggs on the floating plants. The parents should be removed after
spawning.
The fish will spawn frequently if fed the proper diet of small flying insects.
Eggs will hatch in about thirty hours and will be free swimming after five days.
The fry are very small and have to be feed very fine foods like Infusoria, baby brine and
crushed flakes.
The young begin to take adults shape after 20 days, and swim at all tank levels.
Notes
• Most Hatchetfish are wild-caught and thus susceptible to disease, especially "Ich"
when first introduced to the aquarium. It is wise to quarantine fish before adding
them to the main tank.
• These fish have the unique ability to glide over the water surface by rapidly beating
its pectoral fins.
• The Marbled Hatchetfish can leave the water and "fly" for up to 10 feet.
