All fish / Gasteropelecidae

Dwarf Marbled Hatchetfish

Carnegiella schereri

Also known as dwarf hatchetfish, pygmy hatchetfish, scherer's hatchetfish, dwarf marble hatchetfish, marbled hatchet, carnegiella shereri, カーネギー・スケレリー, 小型斧鱼, 迷你银斧

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This is the smallest of the hatchetfishes, with a deep, keel-shaped silvery body crossed by faint brownish marbled bands. It lives right under the surface and is kept for its unusual shape and calm shoaling behaviour in soft-water South American setups.

Care at a glance

Care level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Adult size: 2.5 cm
Temperature: 24 to 28 °C
pH: 5 to 7
Smallest tank: 60 litres
Keep as: Shoal of 8 or more
Diet: Carnivore: small floating foods such as flakes, fruit flies, mosquito larvae, daphnia and baby brine shrimp
Swims: Top of the tank
Lifespan: 3 to 5 years
Water: Freshwater
Wild range: Upper Amazon basin in Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia and Brazil

Breeding

It scatters eggs among floating plants or roots, but spawning in home aquariums is rarely reported. Soft, acidic water, dim light and plenty of live insect foods are thought to help.

Good to know

It is a strong jumper, so a tight-fitting lid is essential. Most specimens are wild caught and can be delicate on arrival, prone to whitespot, so quarantine carefully and avoid boisterous tankmates.