Silver Hatchetfish Question

jack26707

Hey everyone, I havea 38 gallon tankthat I am planning to stock with some peaceful South American fish. I am definetly going to put in silver hatchetfish. I think that they liked to be kept in groups of 5-6, but i was wondering if 3 silver hatchetfish and 3-4 marbled hatchetfish would shoal togeher and be happy. Planned tankmates will include 6 corys and 1 twig catfish. Other recommende tankmates would be appriciated. Thank you.

beaslbob

I would use one or the other.

As you already know they are jumpers. I used an egg crate top to prevent jumping. But when I did maintenance I would find a couple jumped out.

FWIW the are actually "true" flying fish by that I mean the "flap their fins" to get more air time.

interesting fish.

my .02

Byron

I happen to have both in my 115g tank, and they do not socialize cross-species. The marble hatchetfish all interact from time to time, and the silver hatchetfish interact from time to time. But never across species. They don't fight, they are quite compatible, but you need a decent sized group of each species.

And hatchets are always better with more. With marbles, I would not have less than 9 or 10. The Silver are fine with 7 or more. But in your 38g, which I will assume is probably 3 feet in length max, I would go with the smaller Marble Hatchetfish, and get a dozen.

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Byron.