[blueblue48]

i currently have one marble hatchetfish in my 30 gallon. i was thinking of the fish im going to buy when my 55 gallon gets done filling up and cycling so i have a question
do they like to be in groups? because right now he just kind of floats at the top and swims lightly. if so can you mix colors?? like hes a marble but theres some others that are just all silver. any answers would help vito (thats his name since hatchetfish have a HUGE gut under there chin).

 

[FDStation152]

They definitely like groups. I keep six of the plain silver ones in my tank and they spend pretty much all of their time together cruising the top of the tank.

 

[flatcam1]

I love hatchetfish!

it's a pity i don't have any room in my tanks for them

The More the Merrier!

And of course, mix the colours

But if you are thinking of trying to breed them, then get a school of one species......They are very reluctent to breed in captivety

 

[blueblue48]

oh ok thats good tomorrow ill get 2 more hatchetfish. guess what guess what!?!!? i only let the 55 cycle for 3 days but i had old plants in it so i thought it would be fine and i just put all my fish in there from the 30!!

 

[FDStation152]

the plants might not really do the trick but if you are understocking I've found you can get away without much cycling if you are attentive to the water parameters and water changes. While I wouldn't truly reccomend it to anyone I tossed 6 baby angelfish, 1 columbian tetra, and 5 praecox rainbows into an uncycled 10 gallon tank and didnt lose any of them...of course I've been performing 50% water changes almost daily but the point is that you can overcome a lot of stocking and cycling problems with the proper attentiveness to water quality.