Silver Hatchet fish?

B

bozco

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Dec 4, 2003
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Has anybody kept these guys before? My dad really wants them, and now I have room for them in my south american tank, so I suppose I could make him happy. I was just wondering if they are compatable with angels, cardinal and glowlite tetras, cory cats. I don't expect too much conflict, when I look at the tank, because hatchets are supposed to be top dwellers, while all I've got in there are middle and bottom fish.
Anyways, if you have any input, I'd appreciate it.
 
As you said, they are top dwellers. They also like to be kept in groups of at least 5 or 6, like tetras. In the wild they jump out of the water to get bugs off of tree limbs and stuff, so I guess it would be a good idea not to have any openings in the top of your tank that they could jump through.
 
And do a quick count of the hatchets after you've been working in the tank. I had a marble hatchet leap out during tank maintenance and I didn't find him until he was carpet jerky. :(
 
Sounds like a go to me then, I've already lost fish through jumping and have put window screening over all the gaps in the hood. And since the warm weather is coming I can harvest misqueto larva from the river.

Just want to check me stocking quick with you guys, before I head out and get them (probably in 2 weeks)

2 angelfish (proven pair) the size has been steady for nearly two years, so I'm thinking they are full grown at 4.5 inches each (with fins)

3 bronze cory cats expected to get 2.5 inches each

11 cardinal tetras and their adopted disease survivors, the 2 glowlite tetras

So I'm thinking 5-6 hatchets.

Comments? This tanks doesn't seem fully stocked to me right now.

Maintenence is 50% change weekly, its heavily planted, and has been running since Christmas with a filter rated for 55gal (I'd have to double check that one) So, in my opinion I wouldn't think I'd hurt the bioload too much here. But I'm not that experianced, so I'll take any advice into consideration.
 
Here's another tip: My local LFS, a reputable store, has hatchetfish in tanks with lower water levels than their other tanks so as to not bean themselves on the lid when they jump. They have about 5 inches or so of jumping room.
 
I have marble hatchets, not silvers, but I say get them, they are entertaining to watch, and they occupy and often dormant part of the tank (surface).

Like a few people have said, make sure you keep an eye on them when you lift the hood of your tank, and make sur any holes in the hood are covered, these little guys leap out when you lest expect it.
 
Yes i am for you getting them as well, but beware, they are jumpers, as everyone else is saying. The upright fins they have are to help them glide through the air. sweedishfish, a AC user on here, has some silver hatchets, but they have gotten mauled alive ,,by fruit salad tetras.and one is missing an eye .
 
What size aquarium are we talking about here? We've already had a couple of folks advising to go ahead and purchase 5 or 6 fish for an ecosystem that hasn't even been properly defined yet. I'm not saying "don't" buy them, but let's have a little more info first.
 
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