Common hatchetfish (Gasteropelecus sternicla) care guide

Group
Freshwater fish
Other names
Silver hatchetfish, River hatchetfish
Family
Gasteropelecidae (freshwater hatchetfishes)
Origin
Amazon (Peru and Brazil), Orinoco and Essequibo basins, Venezuela, the Guianas and the upper Paraguay basin, in slow creeks and swamps.
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
4 cm
Temperature
20–28°C
pH
5–7.5
Hardness
Very soft to medium, 1–12 dGH
Minimum tank
108 litres
Care level
intermediate
Temperament
peaceful

Care

A peaceful but nervous surface fish that needs company: buy at least six, and more is better. Because it is an active swimmer, a long tank is needed – a base of at least 120 × 30 cm (around 108 litres). A secure, tight-fitting lid is essential. This hatchetfish is a powerful jumper that leaps to catch insects or escape danger, and can clear a long distance in one jump. Give it open swimming space near the surface with some floating plants for cover, and plenty of planting lower down. Keep the water clean at about 20–28 °C, pH 5–7.5 and 1–12 dGH. Identification: a silvery fish with a very deep, keeled chest and a thin dark stripe along the side. It is larger and plainer than the marbled hatchetfish. FishBase lists it as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Sources: Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/gasteropelecus-sternicla/); FishBase (fishbase.se/summary/Gasteropelecus-sternicla.html); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverhatchetfish). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Catches insects at and above the surface in the wild, plus crustaceans and worms. It may be slow to take dried foods at first but usually learns. Base the diet on frozen and live foods such as bloodworm and Daphnia, with fruit flies as an excellent extra.

Breeding

Not recorded in aquaria. Females become noticeably rounder than males when full of eggs. It is presumed to breed in a similar way to the marbled hatchetfish.

Compatibility and tank mates

Very peaceful but shy. Best with small fish that use other parts of the tank, such as tetras, dwarf cichlids and catfish like Corydoras. Avoid large or boisterous tankmates and anything big enough to eat it.

Last updated 5 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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