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Black-Winged Hatchetfish
Carnegiella marthae
📍 South America
The Black-Winged Hatchetfish is a small, peaceful surface-dwelling fish native to South American waters, known for its distinctive wing-like pectoral fins and silvery body. These delicate fish are best kept in groups and prefer heavily planted tanks with calm water conditions. They are excellent for planted community aquariums but require careful handling due to their fragile nature.
Care Guide
Diet
Black-Winged Hatchetfish are carnivorous and prefer small live foods such as fruit flies, mosquito larvae, and small crustaceans. They will also accept high-quality frozen foods like daphnia and brine shrimp. Feed small amounts 2-3 times daily, offering only what they can consume in a few minutes.
Behavior
These fish are active surface feeders that spend most of their time near the water's surface, using their large pectoral fins to glide across the water. They are schooling fish and become stressed when kept alone, displaying more natural behavior and vibrant coloration in groups of 6 or more. They are generally peaceful but may be preyed upon by larger fish.
Breeding
Breeding Black-Winged Hatchetfish in captivity is extremely difficult and rarely successful in home aquariums. They require very specific water conditions and spawning triggers that are challenging to replicate. Most specimens in the hobby are wild-caught or commercially bred in specialized facilities.
Tank Mates
Similar size and peaceful temperament, both prefer calm planted tanks
Peaceful schooling fish with compatible water parameter requirements
Non-aggressive schooling fish that thrive in similar conditions
Peaceful and small enough to coexist without predation risk
Peaceful bottom-dweller that occupies different water zone
Peaceful invertebrate that does not compete for food or space
Common Diseases
Ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis)
White spots on body and fins, rapid breathing, flashing against objects
Raise temperature to 28-30°C (82-86°F), use aquarium salt or ich medication, perform frequent water changes
Fin Rot
Frayed or deteriorating fins, discoloration at fin edges
Improve water quality with frequent changes, use antibacterial medication, remove any sharp decorations
Bacterial Infection
Lethargy, loss of appetite, cloudy eyes, body sores
Perform large water changes, use broad-spectrum antibiotic medication, isolate affected fish if possible
Stress-Related Disease
Faded coloration, hiding, reduced appetite, erratic swimming
Ensure adequate group size (minimum 6), provide dense vegetation, maintain stable water parameters, reduce tank disturbances
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Quick Facts
- diet
- Carnivore - small live and frozen foods
- lifespan
- 3-5 years
- max size
- 4 cm (1.5 in)
- tank size
- 10 gallons minimum
- temperament
- peaceful
Water it likes
- ph
- 5.5-7.0
- ammonia
- 0 ppm
- nitrate
- <20 ppm
- hardness
- 2-8 dGH
- temperature
- 75–82°F (24–28°C)