Hatchetfish tank mates

Good matches

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The safest picks for hatchetfish are bettas, kuhli loaches and tiger barbs. Each match shares hatchetfish' temperature and pH and leaves them alone.

Lives at the surface and jumps. Needs a tight lid.

Temperature: 75–81°F
pH: 5.5–7.5
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum tank: 20 gal
With care: 20
Avoid: 18

How each group of fish does with hatchetfish. Click through below for the reason behind every verdict.

Good tank mates

Possible, with care

Cherry shrimp Hatchetfish will eat baby shrimp and may chase adults. Dense plants or moss give cherry shrimp somewhere to hide.
Ghost shrimp Hatchetfish will eat baby shrimp and may chase adults. Dense plants or moss give ghost shrimp somewhere to hide.
Kissing gourami At 10 inches a kissing gourami can swallow a small hatchetfish. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Bala shark At 13 inches a bala shark can swallow a small hatchetfish. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Clown loach At 8 inches a clown loach can swallow a small hatchetfish. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
African dwarf frog African dwarf frogs eat slowly and nearly blind. Fast hatchetfish will take the food first, so target-feed them.
Rainbow shark A grown rainbow shark may treat small hatchetfish as food, especially at night.
Firemouth cichlid A grown firemouth cichlid may treat small hatchetfish as food, especially at night.
Severum At 8 inches a severum can swallow a small hatchetfish. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Common pleco Plecos grow to 15 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for hatchetfish.
German blue ram They only share 80–81°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
Electric blue acara A grown electric blue acara may treat small hatchetfish as food, especially at night.
Blood parrot At 8 inches a blood parrot can swallow a small hatchetfish. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Tinfoil barb At 12 inches a tinfoil barb can swallow a small hatchetfish. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Hillstream loach They only share 75°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
Gold barb They only share 75°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
Electric yellow cichlid Different water: yellow labs want pH 7.8–8.6, hatchetfish want pH 5.5–7.5.
Dojo loach A grown dojo loach may treat small hatchetfish as food, especially at night.
Peacock cichlid Different water: peacock cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, hatchetfish want pH 5.5–7.5.
Molly Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.5.

Avoid

Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); hatchetfish need 75–81°F. No temperature suits both.
Pea puffer Pea puffers are aggressive and will bully peaceful hatchetfish.
Angelfish An adult angelfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 1.5 inches hatchetfish do.
Oscar An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 1.5 inches hatchetfish do.
Elephant nose fish At 9 inches an elephant nose fish can swallow a 1.5-inch hatchetfish whole.
Black ghost knife An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 1.5 inches hatchetfish do.
Goldfish Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); hatchetfish need 75–81°F. No temperature suits both.
Convict cichlid Convict cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful hatchetfish.
Pictus catfish An adult pictus catfish eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 1.5 inches hatchetfish do.
Bichir An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 1.5 inches hatchetfish do.
Jack Dempsey An adult jack dempsey eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 1.5 inches hatchetfish do.
Discus No shared temperature. Discus need 82–88°F, hatchetfish need 75–81°F.
White cloud minnow White cloud minnows are coldwater animals (60–72°F); hatchetfish need 75–81°F. No temperature suits both.
African cichlid African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful hatchetfish.
Koi Koi are coldwater animals (59–77°F); hatchetfish need 75–81°F. They overlap only at 75–77°F, the edge of both ranges.
Silver arowana An adult silver arowana eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 1.5 inches hatchetfish do.
Flowerhorn An adult flowerhorn eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 1.5 inches hatchetfish do.
Fancy goldfish Fancy goldfish are coldwater animals (65–74°F); hatchetfish need 75–81°F. No temperature suits both.

Planning a mixed tank? The tank mate checker tests every pair at once. Or read the hatchetfish care sheet.

Questions

What are the best tank mates for hatchetfish?

Bettas, Kuhli loaches, Tiger barbs, Corydoras, Cherry barbs. They share hatchetfish' temperature and pH and leave them alone.

What fish should not live with hatchetfish?

Axolotls, Pea puffers, Angelfish, Oscars, Elephant nose fish. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); hatchetfish need 75–81°F. No temperature suits both.

How is compatibility checked?

Each pair is compared on temperature and pH overlap, adult size and mouth size, fin nipping, temperament and territory. The worst result decides the verdict.