Alessa

I have been reading about these fish and I cant seem to find an average number for a school... i have heard that they are fine in groups of three?
does anyone know if this is true?

TFA101

I'd have to say go with a minimum of five. they are social fish and require plenty of their own species. also be sure to have a proper fitting cover, cuz these guys can jump.

Alessa

I am really in love with these fish... and I am trying to see if at least a small school could do with my stocking plans... they are lovely!

another thing that confuses me a lot is that i have seen so many different sizes for it in different websites... in some it says 1.5in in others it says 3in... if they are 1.5-2 i could probably (maybe) be able to hold a small school... if they are 3in...

i dont understand how people hasnt been able to yet determine the standard size. Does anyone know why?

TFA101

like people, the sizes of fish will vary. For example, my Bronze Corydorases are about 7 months into my aquarium and are about 2" long. It's been a while, and it seems they aren't growing any bigger. My friend bought some Bronze Cories at around the same time I bought mine and starting off, her catfish and my catfish were almost exactly the same size (1.5"). Her's are still 1.5" and mine are quite larger. Everything grows at a different pace, which makes determining the maximum size of any one species of fish variable.

I've read 2" in every marbled hatchet fish article, so I'd just guess a median of about 2.5" per fish

Blub

Hatchets. Great fish, jsut a big lack of info. ABSOLUTE MINIMUM IS 6 - 8 IS BETTER! These fish are just plain difficult to keep in numbers under that, as they can easily jump several metres through the air with their 'wings'. If you are interested in hatchets, take these points into consideration:

1) These fish need schools for their general wellbeing. No lessd than 6 hatchets per tank! However, 8 or more is really what I say is best. However, all the hatchet species will school together, so you can have a mixed group of different hatchet kinds.
2) These fish's maximum size is yet to be determined. Why, I do not know. However, they should take up about 2" of space in your tank each, as they are only several millimetres 'thick' at the 'thickest' point on their body.
3) You really need a carnivorus diet for them. Lots of meaty foods like Bloodworm etc.
4) NEVER attempt to keep them in an open top tank. They can easily jump several metres when stressed, so a tight cover is more important than ever.
5) Be wary of filters. At night, the Hatchets will be 'sleepng' like any other fish, and the current of the filter can suck they're several millimeter wide bodies up the intake with ease! You should install some sort of guard on your filter to prevent this.

I know it sucks, but I don't think you have enough space for a school of hatchets in your tank. Those mystery snails are big poopers! If you removed 1 Snail you would probably be safe with 6 hatchets.

Alessa

omg... i so want them....

but I recently lost a Dwarf gourami... does that help that way I would currently have 2 mystery snails, 4 1.5inch male guppies and 2 platies in my 28 gal....

I so need another tank... just have no

Blub

I wasn't counting the gourami when I said it wasn't a good idea. It says you recently lost him in the Aquarium info. Poor old fellow!

Alessa

I know... And today my big mystery snail somehow got out of the tank and fell and broke her shell.. Thanks god I found her (trapdoor closed) and I returned her to the aquarium... Oh boy bad luck recently...

Blub

If a snail can get out of your tank then it is deffinately not hatchet safe! These are the fish who can jump several metres.

Alessa

yes... I will wait until I can have another tank for the hatchets

Fishies-for-me

I had a snail that was an escape artist. It got out every day ( don't know how ) for a couple of weeks and I would find it on the floor somewhere in the room with the tank on it. I was lucky it never did get hurt and after a while it stopped. Some time later I happened to turn over the light holder and there was a dried out clump of snail eggs. I guess she was looking for a good place to lay her eggs and as a last resort she laid them there ... the heat from the light dried them out and killed them.

Alessa

I know, I found the cluster of eggs nearly completely dried out in the outside of the filter...

Angelika

I love these fish too, they are so amusing to watch... I cannot wait to get more to join the ones I already have...as I need to get them in a larger school and follow Hatchethavens advice... but right now Im on hold until I get a few things sorted out in my tanks...

cichlidlover

i would at least get 6

outlaw

Have you seen this page? http://badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile89.html

Hope it helps and Good Luck!

mjordan

can i get a school of 7 or 8 in a 10g. no other fish besides a couple kulhi loaches

Alessa

Not really, it would be very overstocked. The guideline for fish up to two inches is: "One inch of adult fish per gallon of water"

mjordan

well then take out the kuhili loaches. then could i fit a school of 6-8. i thought somebody said these fisheys have a low bio-load