Hatchetfish: The Aquarium Fish That Actually Flies

In this guide

Overview

The hatchetfish, most commonly the marbled or silver hatchetfish species sold in the trade, has a deep, laterally compressed body with a sharply curved belly that genuinely resembles the blade of a hatchet, built around an unusually large, muscular pectoral fin base. It comes from South America and reaches around four to six centimetres depending on species.

This is one of the very few aquarium fish that can genuinely fly, in the loosest sense of the word: hatchetfish can burst from the water's surface and glide, and in some species even flap their pectoral fins while airborne, covering distances documented at up to several metres in the wild, a real escape and hunting adaptation rather than an exaggerated aquarium trade claim.

Tank and water requirements

A group of six or more does well in a tank of sixty litres or more, with a long, open surface area since this species spends almost all its time at the very top of the water column. A secure, tightly fitting lid is absolutely essential given this fish's genuine and powerful jumping ability, more so than with almost any other fish in this series.

It tolerates a reasonable range of water conditions, including typical Indian tap water, though it does best in a calm, well-established tank with gentle surface movement rather than strong turbulence.

Diet and behaviour

Small floating foods such as fine flakes suit its upward-facing mouth well, alongside appreciated live or frozen foods like fruit flies or small crickets that land on the surface. It rarely if ever feeds from the middle or bottom of the tank.

It is peaceful and shoals at the surface, mixing well with calmer mid and bottom-dwelling community fish that will not compete for its preferred feeding zone.

Buying tips

• Priced around fifty to one hundred twenty rupees per fish in most Indian shops that stock surface-dwelling specialty fish
• A genuinely secure, gap-free lid is non-negotiable given this species' real and well-documented jumping and gliding ability
• Feed at the surface specifically, since this fish will rarely descend to eat food that sinks

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