Hatchetfish have a slender body with an upturned mouth that is characteristic of true surface dwellers. The common hatchets are among the more uniquely shaped species of fish, and their bodies typically feature deep bellies and pectoral fins set high on the body.
Gasteropelecus sternicla prefers a planted aquarium with one or two floating plants. A schooling fish, the Silver Hatchet is best kept in groups of six to eight without any extra space left over for swimming around if they are too crowded then there may be aggression among them and this can lead to death.
The Silver Hatchet is an elusive fish. It has been seen in the wild only a handful of times and not much about its breeding habits are known, but one thing that's for sure is it prefers to live in soft water with low pH levels! A good diet of fresh mosquito larvae and fruit flies will trigger spawning by dropping eggs on floating plants.