Carnegiella strigata (1864) Marbled Hatchetfish Synonyms Gasteropelecus strigatus Günther, 1864; Gasteropelecus fasciatusGarman, 1890; Carnegiella strigata vesca Fraser-Brunner, 1950; Carnegiella strigata marowiniHoedeman, 1952; Carnegiella strigata surinamensis Hoedeman, 1952 Etymology Carnegiella: erected in 1909 by C.H. Eigenmann for the type species C. strigata (which was at that time named Gasteropelecus strigatus); the name honours Miss Margaret Carnegie and was chosen to represent the gracefulness of these fish. strigata: from the Latin strigatus, meaning ‘having transverse bands of colour, strigate’. Classification Order: Characiformes Family: Gasteropelecidae Distribution Currently accepted to have an enormous range throughout Amazonian Bolivia, Brazil, Peru and Colombia plus the Río Orinoco system in Venezuela and some coastal drainages in Guyana and Suriname but this may be open to question (see ‘Notes’). There is no type locality since the species was described from an old collection. The majority of fish in the ornamental trade are collected in the rio Negro basin, Brazil. Habitat Appears to be an exclusive inhabitant of blackwater environments. In the rio Negro system it inhabits so-called igapó and igarapé habitats characterised by thick, often overhanging, riparian vegetation and substrates covered in fallen branches, tree roots and leaf litter. The water is typically acidic, of negligible carbonate hardness and conductivity and stained brownish due to the presence of humic substances released by decomposing organic matter. The Negro has a substantial floodplain and the water level can rise by up to 15 metres during the annual wet season. During the period of inundation small fishes such as C. strigata move upstream within the river’s tributaries and then laterally into the flooded forest itself to feed and reproduce, before returning to the tributaries when the water falls. Maximum Standard Length 30 - 35 mm. Aquarium Size Surface dimensions of 75 ∗ 30 cm or more are recommended since this species should be maintained in numbers (see ‘Behaviour and Commpatibility’). Maintenance Should ideally be kept in a heavily-planted set-up, preferably with a dark substrate and some patches of floating vegetation around which the fish will tend to congregate since they spend almost all of their time at or towards the surface. Driftwood branches and dried leaf litter can also be added, the latter in particular driving establishment of microbe colonies as decomposition occurs. Such microorganisms can provide a valuable secondary food source for fry, whilst the tannins and other chemicals released by the decaying leaves are also thought beneficial. Water movement should be gentle to moderate and be sure that the aquarium cover is tightly-fitting as this species may jump when startled (but see ‘Notes’). Water Conditions Temperature: 20 - 28 °C pH: 4.0 - 7.0 Hardness: 18 - 179 ppm Diet Primarily a predator feeding on terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates and other zooplankton taken at or near the water surface in nature. In the aquarium it will accept dried foods of a suitable size but should also be offered regular meals of small live and frozen fare such as Artemia nauplii, Daphnia, Moina, grindal worm, etc. Small insects such as young crickets or Drosophila fruit flies are also suitable to use although it’s best to fill the stomachs of these by feeding them fish flakes or some kind of vegetable matter before offering them to the fish. Behaviour and Compatibility Very peaceful but does not make an ideal community fish due to its small size and rather timid nature. In a community it’s best kept with similarly-sized, peaceful characids and smaller callichthyid or loricariid catfishes. It also makes an ideal dither fish for Apistogramma spp. and other dwarf cichlids since it tends to inhabit the middle-to-upper regions of the tank, and does not actively predate fry. It’s very much a gregarious animal so buy as many as possible, ideally 10 or more, as when kept in larger groups any aggression is spread between individuals plus the fish are bolder and exhibit more natural behaviour. Sexual Dimorphism Some specimens do grow larger and become rounder-bodied than others, and presumably these represent adult females. Reproduction Unrecorded.

I'm sure that the angel fish will surely eat the hatchet fish one day