I woke up this morning to find my marble hatchet missing... I had heard they're jumpers, and with local weather in the 90's the tank was a little warm, so I left the lid open... has anyone heard if they are jumpers, or should I keep an eye on my cat? thanks
marble hatchets...
- Thread starter riffless
- Start date
I had a silver hatchet jump out on me when I was cleaning my tank. Found him the next day all dried up.
"Freshwater Flying Fish." I can't handle them: they drive me crazy, with the jumping and the flying... mmwahey...mmhai..nyah... (Prof. Frink noises die away)
I had no idea how far and fast a hatchetfish could jump until I saw this special on TV about the Amazon. They showed an entire shoal of silver hatchets travelling across a vast distance, skimming the surface of the water. Their pectoral fins fluttering like crazy as they jumped...it actually looked more like flying. There must have been hundreds of hatchets flocking over the water trying to escape a predator. They used slow-motion to show how chaotic it was, with water splashing all over the place. It was quite an amazing sight to see. After seeing that on TV, I don't think there are many aquariums large enough to hold a hatchetfish if it really wanted to jump, which is why a cover is so important.
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it's funny cos...
the marble was tiny (under 1"), and I have a two inch silver hatchet and he seems content to swim below the surface, but the marble stayed near the top... I haven't found a carcass as I think one of my cats or the dog might have made a late night treat of my little buddy...
the marble was tiny (under 1"), and I have a two inch silver hatchet and he seems content to swim below the surface, but the marble stayed near the top... I haven't found a carcass as I think one of my cats or the dog might have made a late night treat of my little buddy...
I have heard that even the small hatchets can jump several feet. I have some marbles also, though I've never had a jumper myself so I can't verify.
If you absolutely must leave the lid off for temperature puposes, getting a screen top like is used for a reptile tank is probably your best bet. That way the air can get through, but the fish can't.
If you absolutely must leave the lid off for temperature puposes, getting a screen top like is used for a reptile tank is probably your best bet. That way the air can get through, but the fish can't.
I had 1 hatchet for a while to see if he will work out in my tank.
He seemed happy so I got 2 more.
I was careful to close the lid until the day
I got the 2 new ones.
One ******* jumped
I placed a sign on the tank now.
"Close the lid" :/
Hatchets are expensive in Australia
they retail for $16.
~ u$ 8
He seemed happy so I got 2 more.
I was careful to close the lid until the day
I got the 2 new ones.
One ******* jumped
I placed a sign on the tank now.
"Close the lid" :/
Hatchets are expensive in Australia
they retail for $16.
~ u$ 8
The hatchets are the only fish that can actualy fly. They use their pectoral fins as wings and can fly for several yards. I had 4 in a tank once. I left the cover open one night and 2 hopped out. I found one behind the tank and the other halfway across the room. Always have a good cover on w/ hatchets.