Marble Hatchet Fish

[Dazzer87]

I've seen some Marble Hatchet fish at one of my lfs... and they are stunning. Does anyone know a decent price for them as they are selling for 3 for £10. I didnt know if this was a good price or not, seems a bit steep for a small fish.

 

[zain611]

I would say that that is a okay price

 

[MBOU]

Thats a pretty good price!! Especially for marbles! Thats a good price for the cheaper silver hatchets, the marbles are more popular as they stay smaller and are prettier. Higher demand = Higher price.

I dont see the marbles as often now andseen them as high as £5 each.

Just because a fish is small, doesnt decrease its value. A fish is worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it, the less often you see a fish, the more demand there is so the price will be higher, no matter what the fish are.

If you like them and they fit in with your tank plan (no open top tanks and personally, i will never trust hatchets with guppies or fighters again) then go get 'em!

 

[Dazzer87]

ok thanks for your help, do you think they will go well with ruby barbs?

cheers

 

[creeker]

I would be hesitant to put Marble Hatchets in with Ruby Barbs. The barbs can get a bit boisterous at feeding time, which might sketch out the Hatchets, causing them to dash against the sides or try to jump out of the tank. I like to keep them with the smaller Tetras, like Cardinals, which also prefer slightly warmer water than the barbs. Of course, the bigger the tank, the more leeway you have in regards to tankmates. How big is the tank? The hatchets like to be in larger numbers, like 10 or more.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Aren't Marble Hatchetfish one of the more delicate types? I'm not sure if they would work with Black Ruby Barbs, who are more of a sub-tropical fish better kept at ~20-22C and might be too hectic at feeding time. Maybe it might work, but I'd want a big group of ~15 hatchets to give them more reassurance.

Depending on other tankmates, I'd look to something like a 1m 3f Golden Wonder Killifish hareem, or 8-10 of Pearl Danios (rather than Zebras that like things a little cooler than Ruby Barbs).

 

[TotallyTropical]

Wait. Aren't Hatchet fish related to Flying fish? I heard from a friend that they are, and after coming home from a vacation, they found their Hatchet fried on the light of the tank. If this is true, let this be a warning.

 

[fluttermoth]

Wait. Aren't Hatchet fish related to Flying fish? I heard from a friend that they are, and after coming home from a vacation, they found their Hatchet fried on the light of the tank. If this is true, let this be a warning.

They aren't related to marine flying fish, but they do 'fly' by flapping their pectoral fins, whereas marine 'flying' fish don't fly; they only glide.

N0TB; I have found marbled hatchets much less delicate than silver hatchets, but I do agree that ruby barbs might be too much for them.

 

[TotallyTropical]

They at least will leap out of the water, right?

 

[fluttermoth]

Gosh yes! I've read that that they can do flights of up to a metre long!

Mine don't like it when I turn the bedroom light out or when the angel has a lunge at them; I can hear them hitting the condensation tray.