View Full Version : African buttefly with hatchets?
I think I already know this won't work, but I'll ask anyway: Can I keep African Butterfly fish with Silver Hatchets?
wetmanNY
01-06-2003, 11:31 PM
The reason not to is that they are "niche competitors." Both hang out under the surface, waiting for insects to fall on the water. etc etc. The difference is, that the African will outcompete the Hatchetfish.
You wouldn't want a gourami in this mix for similar reasons: the surface is its turf.
a_free_bird73
01-07-2003, 12:00 AM
Hatchets are rather delicate and definatly don't like competition. I have successfully kept gouramies with hatchets but only in large tanks (150G) where they will not compete for food (since the flakes disperse with the current to where the hatchet is).
Hatchets will not compete for food in the presence of a much larger or an aggrissive fish and you will have serious trouble feeding them.
Faramir
01-07-2003, 5:33 AM
The other thing is that the butterfly fish is sedentary whilst hatchets are much more energetic and will probaby irritate the butterfly fish.
Gouramis are competitors for both butterflies and hatchets? Uh oh! I have 5 beautiful turquoise (neon blue) dwarf gouramis. They're the most dramatically colored fish in the aquarium. I hadn't noticed them staying near the top. They just seem to hang out where current is mildest.
Since the gouramis are dwarves, will they do okay with hatchets?