Hatchet Fish

On Mon, 17 Apr 2006 17:08:06 -0400, Mister Gardener
wrote:

Now, who was it that hasn't been able to catch her hatchet fish in the
act of eating? I responded with a promise to buy some hatchet fish so
that I could watch how they eat. I purchased three this afternoon, I
wanted five, but it's a long time until payday. And I needed to save
some of my money for the Espe's rasboras that my lfs was saving for
me. The hatchets are in the 55, with all friendly tank mates - neons,
pencils, corys, a few fat platys that were used to initially cycle the
tank and now refuse to leave. I shall watch the hatchets closely at
feeding time and report back. They are presently hanging about an inch
below the water surface, directly in the very fast output stream of my
big filter, they're flapping their wings and maintaining perfect
stillness and balance in the rapids. There are several areas of dense
plant growth they can retreat to if they feel threatened, but so far
they are enjoying themselves out in the open. I haven't looked up
their specific species name, but I think they are
hatchetus ordinaryii.

-- Mister Gardener
And hour later. Feeding time went fine. The hatchets were right up
there competing with all of the other fish, they gobbled down flake
food and freeze dried brine shrimp. When they weren't actually
grabbing food from the surface, they were cruising about a centimeter
below the surface watching for the next perfect morsel. These guys can
move wicked fast!

-- Mister Gardener

Mister Gardener wrote:

And hour later. Feeding time went fine. The hatchets were right up
there competing with all of the other fish, they gobbled down flake
food and freeze dried brine shrimp. When they weren't actually
grabbing food from the surface, they were cruising about a centimeter
below the surface watching for the next perfect morsel. These guys can
move wicked fast!

They fly wicked fast too. I used to find hatchetfish three or four feet
away from the tank when I worked at a fish store.

--
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On Tue, 18 Apr 2006 00:26:07 GMT, Altum
wrote:

Mister Gardener wrote:

And hour later. Feeding time went fine. The hatchets were right up
there competing with all of the other fish, they gobbled down flake
food and freeze dried brine shrimp. When they weren't actually
grabbing food from the surface, they were cruising about a centimeter
below the surface watching for the next perfect morsel. These guys can
move wicked fast!

They fly wicked fast too. I used to find hatchetfish three or four feet
away from the tank when I worked at a fish store.

Yes. I've had previous experience with them and can attest to their
jumping ability. They are one of, if not the only, fish that actually
uses its pectoral fins as a bird uses wings, and while many fish can
jump a good distance, the hatchet is able to propel itself beyond what
it is able to jump. A true flying fish. Mine appear quite settled in
this morning, they are occupying the top 2 or 3 inches of the
aquarium, a region that is often empty except at feeding time. There
were two left at the lfs when I purchased these, I may have to run up
there this afternoon and rescue them from some grubby little kid and
his clueless mother.

This week is school vacation week in my state. Vance, the local fish
dealer was swamped by mothers and children yesterday. He had one
mother that was driving him (and me) crazy. She knew more about fish
than Vance. Vance always talks with the customer about what kind of
tank the fish will be going into, tank mates, et cetera - no matter
how busy he always does some teaching. Well, this mother argued with
everything he said. "I have kept neon tetras with goldfish for years,
so don't tell me they're not compatible", and on and on around the
store. She ran her mouth for nearly an hour, bought two fancy
goldfish. Whew. It's going to be a long, but hopefully profitable,
week at the fish stores.

-- Mister Gardener