Silver hatchetfish - regarding pH

**ijankrom** · 07-28-2013, 06:38 AM

Curious if anyone has kept Silver hatchetfish in a tank with water that stays around 7.6 pH. I like the look of these fish and would like some fish that spend most of their time in the top area of my tank. I recently found articles though that suggest a pH range lower than my current tank's pH. Would there be a big difference between 7.0 and 7.6? Would hate to purchase and see them die.

**imma24** · 07-28-2013, 11:32 AM

There is something called acclimation - getting new fish used to the pH in your tank.

Consider that many people order fish online and you don't necessary know the pH they are coming from. There is a "sticky" in one section of this forum that describes different methods of doing this
Edit: here it is! http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...ad.php?t=62211 - slowly getting a new fish used to your tank water so they aren't shocked - many fish can adapt to a range of pH - if your tank is appropriate for these fish (won't be overstocked and you have really good cover for the top because they are jumpers), go for it!

I believe my pH is close to what you have and I would get them if I wanted them.

**~firefly~** · 07-28-2013, 01:41 PM

The more important question is what is your water hardness? pH shock is less fatal than TDS shock so that is the one to concentrate on in my opinion.

**steeler58** · 07-28-2013, 05:15 PM

I've kept them at your pH with no problems, the Marble's are a little more sensitive, like the above post stated as long as you acclimate them right you will be okay.

Floating plants that provide shade and cover will go a long ways to providing for this great fish's well being.

**Byron** · 07-28-2013, 08:23 PM

I concur with firefly that GH is by far the more significant parameter than pH. Having said that, if by "Silver Hatchetfish" you mean Gasteropelecus sternicla which is the most commonly seen "Silver" hatchet species, it should be OK. This species is a bit more active, gets slightly larger, and is a bit more robust than the species in Carnegiella such as the Marble (C. strigata) or the Black-winged (C. marthae) which are frequently available. The latter might be commonly referred to as "Silver" since it is basically silver-coloured. They are easy to tell apart, as none of the Carnegiella species have an adipose fin, whereas G. sternicla does. The Carnegiella species will be wild caught and require soft water or they will not do as well long-term.

At this point, another issue arises, and that is space. If this is the 25g tank in your signature, I personally would not get G. sternicla as they azre (in my experience) quite active for hatchets. The Carnegiella species would be much better; they remain almost motionless if they are settled. And here your GH needs to be looked at.

Byron.

**ijankrom** · 07-29-2013, 08:07 PM

Thank you all. I will look at testing Gh and go from there.

**Byron** · 07-29-2013, 08:39 PM

If you don't already have a GH test kit, you don't need to get one. The municipal water supply people can tell you the GH of your tap water; they probably have a website with water data posted. The GH is not likely to change unless something in the aquarium targets it specifically, so knowing the GH of the source water is sufficient at this stage.

Byron.