How to Breed Silver Hatchet Fish

Silver hatchetfish are found in the waters of South America including those in Brazil and the tributaries of the Amazon. These fish, though typically silver or white in color, can also exhibit iridescent shades of green and blue. The silver hatchet fish is a peaceful species that make excellent community fish. These fish are a joy to keep but they can be difficult to breed. Very few instances of successful captive breeding of these fish have been documented but if you follow the proper procedures and try for yourself you may get lucky.

Things You'll Need

  • Glass aquarium
  • Dechlorinated water
  • Live aquarium plants
  • Power filter
  • Live and frozen fish food
  • Silver hatchet fish
  • Submersible aquarium heater
  • Sponge filter
  • Liquid fry food
  • Infusoria
  • Live brine shrimp
  • Commercial fry food
  • Flake food
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up a spawning tank using a 15 or 20 gallon glass aquarium. Fill the aquarium 3/4 full with dechlorinated water and decorate it with a variety of live aquarium plants. Leave the bottom of the tank bare to make cleaning the tank easier. Install a power filter in the aquarium to maintain water quality.

    • 2

      Condition your silver hatchet fish for breeding by separating the males from the females and feeding both a diet of live and frozen foods. Feed your fish small amounts 3 or 4 times a day until the females begin to swell with eggs and the males become more colorful.

    • 3

      Introduce one male and one female to the spawning tank and continue to feed them live and frozen foods.

    • 4

      Slowly increase the temperature in the aquarium using a submersible aquarium heater until the tank reaches a temperature of approximately 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Higher temperatures have been known to trigger spawning in other species of fish and this trick may also work with your silver hatchet fish.

    • 5

      Watch your fish for spawning behavior to occur over the next few days. Your fish may begin to chase each other around the tank in a type of courtship after which the female will scatter the eggs. If spawning has occurred you should see a number of eggs deposited among the leaves of the plants in the tank. If spawning does not occur after ten days, remove both fish and try with another conditioned pair.

    • 6

      Remove the adult silver hatchet fish from the tank once spawning has occurred and switch out the power filter for a sponge filter that will not damage the eggs. After a day or so the eggs should hatch and 3 to 4 days later they will become free-swimming.

    • 7

      Once the fry begin to swim on their own, feed them a diet of liquid fry food and infusoria, a type of single-celled organism often used to feed small fry.

    • 8

      Add newly hatched brine shrimp to the diet of your silver hatchet fish fry once they grow a little bit. As they continue to grow you will be able to feed them commercial fry food and finely crushed flake food. Feed the fry frequently until they reach 1/2 inch in size then you may consider selling them or introducing them to your community tank.