Care
The Silver Hatchetfish is a surface-hugging species from sluggish softwater environments, where there is an abundance of thick overhanging vegetation, fallen branches, roots, and leaf litter. The home aquarium should be biologically mature and well filtered, but water movement should be kept as gentle as possible. Soft, acidic water is preferable, and this can be helped along with the addition of peat to the aquarium filter. Dark décor and plenty of bogwood, caves, and planting - including floating species - will all help these fish to feel secure. It is imperative that the tank has tight fitting coverslides as these fish are highly skilled jumpers; and do ensure there are no escape holes where equipment feeds into the tank (block any gaps with filter sponge). Silver Hatchetfish are a timid shoaling species, which congregate in large numbers in nature; for this reason, they must be kept in groups of 6 or more (10+ is better) in order to feel secure and display natural behaviour. Tankmates must be small and peaceful, as Silver Hatchetfish are easily intimidated. Good companions could include small peaceable tetras, pencilfish, Corydoras catfish, dwarf cichlids such as Apistogramma or Mikrogeophagus, and some of the smaller Loricariidae (suckermouth catfish). Much attention must be paid to water quality since Silver Hatchets can be sensitive to elevated nitrates and swings in water chemistry. At present, this species is not being bred on a commercial basis, and so the fish seen in the trade are almost always wild caught; for this reason it is especially important to quarantine new purchases before adding to the main aquarium. May also be seen on sale as the Common Hatchetfish or River Hatchetfish.
Feeding
Flake, micropellets, small frozen foods e.g. bloodworm, white mosquito larvae, black mosquito larvae, daphnia, and baby brineshrimp (Artemia nauplii), plus fruitflies (Drosophila sp.).
Breeding
There are no reports of the Silver Hatchetfish having been bred in the home aquarium, but would make an excellent breeding project for the serious hobbyist. It is likely to reproduce in a very similar fashion to that of the Marbled Hatchetfish, which has been bred in the home aquarium (although this is not easily accomplished). Unless your fish are kept in a species-only tank, it would be best to set up a separate aquarium for the purposes of breeding. Soft, acidic water is essential (peat filtration is recommended). The fish should be well-conditioned on a diet of small fruitflies and black mosquito larvae, and following a lengthy courtship ritual, eggs should be laid on floating plants or plants growing near the water's surface. The parents will predate on the eggs/fry, so they should be acclimatised back to the main aquarium once spawning has ceased. Once the eggs have hatched, and the fry have become free-swimming a few days later, they can be offered infusoria and paramecium, moving on to baby brineshrimp (Artemia nauplii) as they grow.
