How to Breed Flying Fish

The Gasteropelecidae hatchetfish family are considered the true flying fish. Hatchetfish are the only fish that move or "flap" the pectoral fins to aid them as they leap from the water to catch insects. Marbled hatchetfish are the easiest to breed within an aquarium setting. Hatchetfish are positive community fish, however being surface feeders, flying insects are required for food. Add live plants to hatchetfish tanks, as the fish will lay eggs within them. Provide an ultimate spawning environment within a tank dedicated only as an environment for breeding hatchetfish.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquarium with lid
  • Live aquarium plants
  • Aquarium heater
  • Peat extract
  • Fruit flies or black mosquito larvae
  • Aquarium net
  • Finely powdered flake food
  • Brine shrimp
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Instructions

    • 1

      Insert enough marbled hatchetfish within a tank to promote schooling. Hatchetfish enjoy groups of at least three to five within an environment. Known for the silver, hatchet-like underbelly, marbled hatchetfish differ from common hatchetfish due to the distinct marbled coloring on their bellies. Marbled hatchetfish are also smaller than common hatchetfish or silver hatchetfish, only reaching about 1 1/2 inches long, compared with common or silver hatchetfish varieties that can grow to about 3 1/2 inches long. Marbled hatchetfish often are confused in tropical fish stores with other varieties. Ensuring your fish are, in fact, marbled hatchetfish, will help you with the breeding process.

    • 2

      Insert many live plants within the aquarium for the fish to breed within and for a place to lay their eggs. Hatchetfish being surface feeders, however, need plenty of surface water for which to feed, so putting too many tall or floating plants in the water will not reap breeding rewards. Choose plants that are bushy and low-lying to keep the surface free for the fish to enjoy.

    • 3

      Turn on a heating element for the water and set it to a temperature between 75 and 82 degrees F. Keep a constant temperature within the water to help promote breeding.

    • 4

      Add peat extract within the water to darken it to a near opaque shade. Lighting for hatchetfish should remain subdued. Avoid placing the tank in sunny areas and use a low-light or dim setting on the aquarium light.

    • 5

      Feed flying insects to the hatchetfish to promote spawning. Fruit flies or mosquito larvae work well in an aquarium environment.

    • 6

      Feed the fry powdered or crushed flake food. They will swim freely within about five days after hatching. The first two or three days are appropriate for flake food, but after the third day feed the fry brine shrimp thereafter, as suggested by Animal-World online.