fish · Gasteropelecidae
Silver hatchetfish
Thoracocharax stellatus
Wild range: Amazon, Orinoco and Paraná basins (South America)
At a glance: Silver hatchetfish care
Compiled reference information. Review the care notes and original sources below.
What temperature is listed for Silver hatchetfish?
The compiled profile lists 22.0–28.0 °C for Silver hatchetfish (Thoracocharax stellatus). Check the original sources below for context and differing recommendations.
What tank size is listed for Silver hatchetfish?
The profile lists a minimum tank volume of 21.1 US gallons (80.0 liters). Volume alone does not establish suitability; consider dimensions, group size and other inhabitants alongside the full care notes.
What pH is listed for Silver hatchetfish?
The compiled profile lists a pH of 5.5–7.0. Review the cited care sources alongside the other water parameters in this profile.
Natural habitat
A surface-dwelling hatchetfish of quiet river margins, backwaters, oxbow lakes and flooded forest over much of tropical South America. It usually stays near overhanging or floating vegetation, where insects fall onto the water.
Where they are found
Widespread in the Amazon, Orinoco and Paraná–Paraguay basins, with records from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. It was described from the rio Cuiabá, Mato Grosso. "Silver hatchetfish" is also used in the trade for Gasteropelecus species. This entry covers T. stellatus, which is recognised by the dark spot in its dorsal fin.
Aquarium care
Keep spotfin (silver) hatchetfish in a group in a long tank with open surface area, some floating plants and a tight-fitting lid, because they jump. Soft to moderately hard, slightly acidic to neutral water at about 22–27 °C suits them. Keep conditions stable with regular partial water changes.
Feeding
These fish have a preference for foods that float at the surface. Offer them high-quality flake food, floating pellets, and live foods like brine shrimp or daphnia to ensure they eat properly. Monitor their feeding behavior to prevent underfeeding, as they may not compete for food at lower levels.
Compatibility
A peaceful shoaling fish for community tanks with other calm species. Keep it in groups and avoid aggressive or fin-nipping tankmates. Mild squabbling can occur within small groups.
Breeding
Rarely bred in captivity. It scatters its eggs among floating-plant roots and gives no parental care. The first documented aquarium spawning was a zoo breeding group reported by TFH Magazine. Attempts use soft, slightly acidic water, dim light and dense floating cover.
Sources
Compiled from multiple independent care sheets — not copied from a single site.