Dwarf Glass Hatchet Fish 3.5cm

Dwarf Glass Hatchet Fish

Dwarf glass hatchet fish is an incredibly under-rated, unique, easy to care for, and all-around great fish for smaller aquariums. They are not commonly found in the aquarium hobby but are a true oddball fish that adds such a wonderful dynamic to a community aquarium.

Dwarf hatchet fish have a characteristic body shape which is truly a signature of this fish, the deep body which quickly narrows to the tail, and the straight body is not seen in any other fish. These hatchet fish are so slender and thin they are almost translucent, their bone structure is visible but they also have a great colour scheme. Though the body has a grey base colour they have tinfoil-like iridescence of blue, green, and gold along with a striking lateral line. They also have a peppering of black and airplane-looking pectoral fins which truly makes them look like a spaceship from the cosmos. 

These fish are almost exclusively topwater fish that look like they are skimming the water at times, only growing to a maximum of 2.5 cm and having tight schooling behavior they make for a great nano fish for smaller aquariums of an incredibly different addition to a larger community tank.

Glass hatchet fish are tropical fish that thrive in temperatures ranging from 24-28 degrees and live for a surprising 3-5 years for such a small fish. Breeding these fish in the home aquarium has not been recorded as of yet due to the fact that males and females cannot be differentiated. These fish may also require specific environmental traits which could be hard to replicate in the home aquarium. The dwarf glass hatchet is found in parts of Peru, South America.

Tank Recommendations for your Dwarf Glass Hatchet Fish
The dwarf glass hatchet fish is a true dwarf species that only get to an absolute maximum of 2.5 cm. This makes them great for smaller aquariums with the minimum being 35 liters however a larger aquarium of around 75 liters would be better due to their very active and schooling nature. Dwarf hatchet fish are also prolific jumpers which means a secure lid with no large gaps is highly required. 

They will also love a well-planted tank to give them security and the darker tones will really stand out against the lush green of the plants. Substrate wise there is no concern as these fish spend almost all their time at the top of the water column but they are fish that need a low PH so the aquascape materials should not raise the PH in any way. This species is most active during the day when the lights are on. 

Suitable Tank Buddies

Dwarf glass hatchet fish will get along with a wide range of smaller and peaceful community fish, they have small mouths so there is no concern of them predating on small fish however they are active fish meaning they may outcompete slower fish during feeding or any fish which is at the bottom of the aquarium.

Usually Compatible

Various tetras such as cardinal, Rummynose, Kerri, Cochus blue, and more.
Sometime Compatible

Angelfish, dwarf cichlids such as rams, giant danios, rainbow fish, and Corydoras might compete for food or get outcompeted by the glass hatchet fish. Almost all small peaceful community fish would be fine in an average aquarium setting.

Rarely Compatible

Shrimp, newborn fry, or large cichlids such as severum or Uaru.

Feeding your Assorted Dwarf Glass Hatchet Fish

These hatchet fish will take to a wide range of aquarium foods given to them, this includes pellets, flakes, frozen and live foods. When kept in a school it is great to see their pack feeding as they hammer the surface of the water when feeding. Because of this primarily surface-dwelling mentality, floating or slow sinking food is best fed to them. Feeding should occur once a day and it is best to do so when the lights are on during the day.