Marbled Hatchetfish
Carnegiella strigata · family Gasteropelecidae
Parameters
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C
- pH
- 5.5–6.5
- Hardness
- 1–8 °dGH
- Tank volume
- from 100 L
- Maximum size
- up to 3.5 cm
- Group size
- min 6, ideal 8
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Swimming zone
- Top
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Lifespan
- 3–5 years
Description
A narrow 'hatchet' body and developed pectoral fins let hatchetfish leap out of the water. A tight lid is mandatory.
Care
Soft acidic water, shaded tank. A LID WITHOUT GAPS — they jump out.
Feeding
Floating food at the surface. Likes small frozen items.
Compatibility
Compatibility data not yet available.
FAQ
- Where do hatchetfish jump?
- Up and forward when startled. They glide up to 1 m above the water. Without a lid, they will be lost.
Goldie editorial team
Practising aquarists with a combined 30+ years of experience · Biologists and editors, fact-checking against FishBase and Seriously Fish · Every piece is reviewed by a qualified ichthyologist before publication
Scientific board — ichthyologists and veterinarians
Ichthyologists and veterinarians with university degrees · Reference FishBase, Seriously Fish and peer-reviewed literature · Sign every reviewed article with their credentials shown
Sources
- Wikipedia: Carnegiella strigata · Wikipedia · 2026-05-22