Hatchet fish not eating. Cory Cats making water dirty?

I got 6 hatchet fish (I think they are common hatchet fish even though
they were sold as silver hatchets). I have tried feeding them flakes,
frozen blood worms, and live black worms. But they don't seem to eat
anything. One problem is that there are other fish (tetras and
rainbows) that will come and eat the food.
But even when I have the other fish distracted and I drop some food
next the the hatchet fish, they don't seem to go after the food and the
other fish come and eat it.

Then I have 3 corys that seem to be very happy in the tank but then
they seem to disturb the plant detrius and make the water dirty. I
don't usually vacuum my planted tank but should I start doing it to
keep the water clean?

Thank you

"Shorty" wrote in message
oups.com...
I got 6 hatchet fish (I think they are common hatchet fish even though
they were sold as silver hatchets). I have tried feeding them flakes,
frozen blood worms, and live black worms. But they don't seem to eat
anything. One problem is that there are other fish (tetras and
rainbows) that will come and eat the food.
But even when I have the other fish distracted and I drop some food
next the the hatchet fish, they don't seem to go after the food and the
other fish come and eat it.

Then I have 3 corys that seem to be very happy in the tank but then
they seem to disturb the plant detrius and make the water dirty. I
don't usually vacuum my planted tank but should I start doing it to
keep the water clean?

Thank you


Try mosquito larvae you can find it at your lfs or maybe a petco, (i have
noticed they have a frig in their stores to hold frozen food & stuff) my
father has since passed away but had those in one of his many tanks, I
always thought they were pretty neat fish, i think its the same fish your
talking about....looks kind of like the shape of a storks mouth, big
belly.....he had them in a tank alone, not in a comunity but i never see
them any were i go now.
Nik

I have tried freeze-dried mosquite larvae but they don't seem
interested. They are supposed to be surface feeders but I never see
them going to the surface. On some web sites they mention hatchet fish
as hardy and easy to keep for beginners. But if it's so difficult to
get them to eat I would definitely would not recommend them as fish for
beginners. Is it possible that they eat something else in the tank and
they are just not hungry? If I cannot take care of them, I will have to
give them away.

I have seen these fish in two stores in the New York area.

how about putting them in their own tank? is that a option, any extra tanks
around the house.
Nik

"Shorty" wrote in message
oups.com...
I have tried freeze-dried mosquite larvae but they don't seem
interested. They are supposed to be surface feeders but I never see
them going to the surface. On some web sites they mention hatchet fish
as hardy and easy to keep for beginners. But if it's so difficult to
get them to eat I would definitely would not recommend them as fish for
beginners. Is it possible that they eat something else in the tank and
they are just not hungry? If I cannot take care of them, I will have to
give them away.

I have seen these fish in two stores in the New York area.

On 8 Apr 2006 19:58:19 -0700, "Shorty"
wrote:

I have tried freeze-dried mosquite larvae but they don't seem
interested. They are supposed to be surface feeders but I never see
them going to the surface. On some web sites they mention hatchet fish
as hardy and easy to keep for beginners. But if it's so difficult to
get them to eat I would definitely would not recommend them as fish for
beginners. Is it possible that they eat something else in the tank and
they are just not hungry? If I cannot take care of them, I will have to
give them away.

I have seen these fish in two stores in the New York area.

If you can determine that they actually are for real hatchet fish, and
you wish to get rid of them, please drop them off during your summer
trip to Bar Harbor, Maine. Take a left at Boston and stay on that
road. I live in the green house 2 doors up from the supermarket. You
can't miss it. I'll be looking for you.

-- Mister Gardener

Well, I know they are hatchet fish for sure. They have that big flat
hanging belly and the side fins look kinda like wings. And by their
mouths you can tell they are surface feeders. I can post a photo if you
want. They do actually hang out near the surface but I never see them
munch on anything on the surface. This weekend I actually tried putting
them in a separate tank, but they were not interested in either flakes,
dried mosquito larvae, frozen larvae or black worms. So... any other
suggestions?

"Mister Gardener" wrote in message
...
On 9 Apr 2006 16:52:54 -0700, "Shorty"
wrote:

Well, I know they are hatchet fish for sure. They have that big flat
hanging belly and the side fins look kinda like wings. And by their
mouths you can tell they are surface feeders. I can post a photo if you
want. They do actually hang out near the surface but I never see them
munch on anything on the surface. This weekend I actually tried putting
them in a separate tank, but they were not interested in either flakes,
dried mosquito larvae, frozen larvae or black worms. So... any other
suggestions?

OK, I believe you that they are really hatchet fishes. Are you sure
they are not grabbing a bite to eat when you're not looking? How do
the fish look? Active? Sunken bellies? Eyes clear? You have me
interested enough that I plan to add a few to one of my own tanks this
week just so I can observe their feeding behavior. I've kept them
before, but never really paid attention to whether they ate or not. I
guess they were getting their nutrition, they lived for at least a
couple of years.

-- Mister Gardener

where are you going to put them in which tank? let us know how it goes, i
love those fish always thought they were so neat looking.
nik

"Shorty" wrote in message
oups.com...

I have seen these fish in two stores in the New York area.
=================
Is FishTownUSA still on Northern Blvd in Flushing?
--
Koi-Lo.... the ReelMcKoi
Frugal ponding since 1995.
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

Yeah, FishTownUSA is still there. That's where I got the hatchets.

Koi-Lo wrote:
"Shorty" wrote in message
oups.com...

I have seen these fish in two stores in the New York area.
=================
Is FishTownUSA still on Northern Blvd in Flushing?
--
Koi-Lo.... the ReelMcKoi
Frugal ponding since 1995.
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

The fish look good, they are active, eyes clear. Not sure about the
sunken bellies... since they already have that flat hatchet shape.
Other than not eating when I'm feeding, they look ok. Is it possible
that they are nocturnal fish and I should feed them at a different time
than the other fish... maybe when the light is off?