Pygmy Hatchet Fish Care Guide

The Pygmy Hatchetfish, Carnegiella myersi, is a very small South American characin with a distinctive hatchet-shaped body. Its silvery flanks, sharply elevated chest and dark markings help it blend into the broken reflections of the water surface, while its upturned mouth reveals its surface-feeding lifestyle.This species is a peaceful, strongly social fish that normally moves in coordinated groups near the top of the water. Its unusual body shape and enlarged pectoral muscles are associated with brief, rapid leaps when it is startled, an ability that has made hatchetfishes especially famous among aquarium fishes.Pygmy Hatchetfish originate in the calm, shaded waters of the upper Amazon region, including small forest streams, flooded woodland and quiet tributaries. These habitats are often surrounded by dense vegetation and overhanging branches, with subdued light and water rich in fallen leaves and other organic material.Although diminutive, Carnegiella myersi has a striking presence in a suitably composed community because it occupies a part of the aquarium that many other fish ignore. Its surface-oriented behaviour, shimmering colouration and unusual silhouette make it one of the most distinctive small characins available to aquarists.