Marbled hatchetfish
Carnegiella strigata
A tiny, deep-chested hatchetfish that lives right under the surface; shy and an expert jumper, so a tight lid is a must.
Key facts
- Body length
- 1.4 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 22 gallons
- Group
- 10+
- Temperament
- Peaceful, shy
- Care level
- 3 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Floating micro pellets, flakes, frozen daphnia
- Origin
- Rio Negro blackwaters, South America
- Hardier than67%
- Bigger than12%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Marbled hatchetfish tank mates
- Neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Harlequin rasboraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Fancy guppyGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Panda corydorasGets along in shared water.Good mates
- OtocinclusGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cherry shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- BettaGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Tiger barbGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Amano shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black widow tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blood parrot cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Chinese algae eaterChinese algae eater eats slow fish: Marbled hatchetfish (SF: присасывается к бокам крупных соседей, объедая слизь).Risky
- DemasoniDemasoni (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Marbled hatchetfish.Risky
- Golden mbunaGolden mbuna (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Marbled hatchetfish.Risky
- Rainbow sharkRainbow shark (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Marbled hatchetfish.Risky
- Red-tailed black sharkRed-tailed black shark (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Marbled hatchetfish.Risky
- Zebra mbunaZebra mbuna (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Marbled hatchetfish.Risky
- AngelfishAngelfish can eat Marbled hatchetfish: prey body depth 1.4 cm ≤ mouth 2.3 cm.Avoid
- Blue dolphin cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Marbled hatchetfish: prey body depth 1.4 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- Convict cichlidConvict cichlid can eat Marbled hatchetfish: prey body depth 1.4 cm ≤ mouth 3.8 cm.Avoid
- Firemouth cichlidFiremouth cichlid can eat Marbled hatchetfish: prey body depth 1.4 cm ≤ mouth 3.0 cm.Avoid
- GoldfishGoldfish can eat Marbled hatchetfish: prey body depth 1.4 cm ≤ mouth 3.0 cm.Avoid
- Iridescent sharkIridescent shark can eat Marbled hatchetfish: prey body depth 1.4 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for marbled hatchetfish: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 3.5 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 1.65 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 1.15 BU
- Min. water
- 68 L net
- Min. footprint
- 75 × 30 cm per group
- Group
- 10+ (best 10)
- Swims in
- surface, top
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- deep bodied, normal fins
- Diet type
- micropredator
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- —
Sources: Seriously Fish: Carnegiella strigata · FishBase: Carnegiella strigata
Care notes
Marbled hatchetfish come only from blackwater streams and flooded forests of the Rio Negro. They feed from the surface and leap when startled.
Keep ten or more in a 20 gallon tank or larger with at least a 30 by 12 inch surface and a tight lid. They need calm tank mates and do not hunt fry, which makes them a good dither fish for apistogrammas.
Questions
What size tank does a marbled hatchetfish need?
At least 22 gallons (68 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 1.4 inches without fins.
How many marbled hatchetfish should be kept together?
Keep at least 10, ideally 10 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do marbled hatchetfish need?
75–82 °F, pH 5–7 and 1–10 dGH. Marbled hatchetfish come from Rio Negro blackwaters, South America.
How long do marbled hatchetfish live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with marbled hatchetfish?
Good tank mates include Neon tetra, Harlequin rasbora, Fancy guppy, Panda corydoras and Otocinclus. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.