Silver Hatchet Fish Gasteropelecus Sternicla 4cm
Image for illustration purposes only. Exact colours, patterns, and size may vary between individuals.
Delivered alive, guaranteed
Live fish delivery is £20 per order, delivered Thursday, Friday or Saturday, arriving before 1:00pm on the day you choose at checkout. Packed by aquatic specialists and shipped overnight with a dedicated livestock courier, every fish is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee with automatic refunds. See How Live Fish Delivery Works for full details.
When will my fish arrive?
| Order placed | Delivery day |
|---|---|
| Up to Monday 11:00am | Thursday (that week) |
| Monday after 11:00am – Tuesday 11:00am | Friday (that week) |
| Tuesday after 11:00am – Wednesday 11:00am | Saturday (that week) |
| Wednesday after 11:00am – Sunday (any time) | Thursday (following week) |
Overview
The Silver or Common Hatchetfish (Gasteropelecus sternicla) is a gleaming silver surface dweller with a deep keeled body, a dark lateral line and long wing-like pectoral fins. It is found across the middle Amazon, Orinoco, Guianas and Paraguay basins in slow forest streams and swamps. Suited to peaceful planted community tanks with a tight lid and calm tank mates.
- Adult Size: Around 4–4.5 cm (1.6–1.8 in); females rounder when gravid
- Lifespan: 4–6 years
Origin
- Native to: Middle Amazon, Orinoco, Guianas and Paraguay basins
- Habitat: Slow forest streams and swamps with surface vegetation
Feeding
- Diet: Insectivorous, surface feeder
- Preferred Foods: Bloodworm, Daphnia, fruit flies, Artemia, floating micro pellets, flake
- Feeding Habits: Small feeds once or twice daily; wean onto dried food slowly
Tank Mates
- Best with: Tetras, pencilfish, Corydoras, dwarf cichlids, peaceful catfish
- Avoid: Aggressive or boisterous fish, fin nippers, surface competitors
Aggression & Behaviour
- Temperament: Very peaceful, nervous
- Territoriality: None; keep in groups of six or more
Experience Level
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Challenges: Shy, jumps readily, initially refuses dried food
Water Parameters
- Water Type: Freshwater, soft and slightly acidic
- Temperature: 20–28°C (68–82°F)
- pH: 5.0–7.5
- Hardness: 1–12 dGH
- Flow: Slow
- Tank Size: Minimum 100 litres long, shallow footprint for a group
Final Notes
This species is renowned for leaping and gliding several metres, so fit a tight cover with every gap sealed. It spends almost all its time at or just below the surface and settles best in a group of six or more with floating plants for security. Breeding in aquaria is unknown. Given calm company and a mix of live and frozen foods, it is a hardy, long-lived and elegant surface fish.
Please Note
The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Birchwood Aquatic Centre shop. Species sold at the Birchwood Aquatic Centre physical store may differ from ones available to order to your door.
Frequently Asked Questions
In insulated boxes designed for live transport, packed by aquatic specialists,
overnight with a licensed live-animal courier, arriving before 1pm.
It is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
Photograph it within 4 hours of delivery, email info@birchwoodaquaticcentre.co.uk with your order number, and the refund is processed automatically. The cover continues for 7 days after arrival.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You pick your day at checkout; please choose a day someone is home.
Yes. One basket, one checkout; the fish arrive with the specialist courier and the rest of your order ships as normal.
We can deliver to UK mainland only for live fish.
Follow the five-minute acclimatisation steps in our When Your Fish Arrive guide: float the bags, add tank water gradually, net the fish in, lights low, feed tomorrow.