The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Birchwood Aquatic Centre shop. Species sold at the Birchwood Aquatic Centre physical store may differ from ones available to order to your door.
Marbled Hatchet Fish Carnegiella Strigata 4cm
Image for illustration purposes only. Exact colours, patterns, and size may vary between individuals.
Delivered alive, guaranteed
Live fish delivery is £20 per order, delivered Thursday, Friday or Saturday, arriving before 1:00pm on the day you choose at checkout. Packed by aquatic specialists and shipped overnight with a dedicated livestock courier, every fish is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee with automatic refunds. See How Live Fish Delivery Works for full details.
When will my fish arrive?
| Order placed | Delivery day |
|---|---|
| Up to Monday 11:00am | Thursday (that week) |
| Monday after 11:00am – Tuesday 11:00am | Friday (that week) |
| Tuesday after 11:00am – Wednesday 11:00am | Saturday (that week) |
| Wednesday after 11:00am – Sunday (any time) | Thursday (following week) |
Overview
The Marbled Hatchetfish (Carnegiella strigata) is a small surface dweller with a deep blade-shaped belly patterned in bold cream and brown marbling. It lives in blackwater streams and flooded forest across the Amazon, Orinoco and Guianas, most aquarium fish coming from Brazil's Rio Negro. Suited to peaceful, dimly lit planted tanks with a tight lid.
- Adult Size: Around 3.5 cm (1.4 in); females slightly larger and rounder
- Lifespan: 3–5 years
Origin
- Native to: Amazon, Orinoco and Guiana drainages, notably Rio Negro
- Habitat: Blackwater flooded forest with leaf litter and cover
Feeding
- Diet: Insectivorous, surface feeder
- Preferred Foods: Fruit flies, Daphnia, Artemia, bloodworm, floating micro pellets, flake
- Feeding Habits: Small feeds once or twice daily; foods must float
Tank Mates
- Best with: Small tetras, pencilfish, Corydoras, Apistogramma, other hatchetfish
- Avoid: Large, boisterous or nippy fish, greedy surface feeders
Aggression & Behaviour
- Temperament: Very peaceful, timid
- Territoriality: None; keep in groups of ten or more
Experience Level
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Challenges: Skittish, jumps readily, prefers soft acidic water
Water Parameters
- Water Type: Freshwater, soft and acidic, blackwater
- Temperature: 20–28°C (68–82°F)
- pH: 4.0–7.0
- Hardness: 1–10 dGH
- Flow: Slow
- Tank Size: Minimum 70 litres long footprint; larger for a proper group
Final Notes
A secure, gap-free lid is non-negotiable, as this species jumps at the slightest fright. It is wild caught rather than farmed, so quarantine carefully and offer live or frozen foods until it takes dried food. Breeding is unrecorded in aquaria. Dim lighting, floating plants, tannins from leaf litter and a group of ten or more bring out confident, natural behaviour and make this a captivating surface shoal.
Please Note
The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Birchwood Aquatic Centre shop. Species sold at the Birchwood Aquatic Centre physical store may differ from ones available to order to your door.
Frequently Asked Questions
In insulated boxes designed for live transport, packed by aquatic specialists,
overnight with a licensed live-animal courier, arriving before 1pm.
It is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
Photograph it within 4 hours of delivery, email info@birchwoodaquaticcentre.co.uk with your order number, and the refund is processed automatically. The cover continues for 7 days after arrival.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You pick your day at checkout; please choose a day someone is home.
Yes. One basket, one checkout; the fish arrive with the specialist courier and the rest of your order ships as normal.
We can deliver to UK mainland only for live fish.
Follow the five-minute acclimatisation steps in our When Your Fish Arrive guide: float the bags, add tank water gradually, net the fish in, lights low, feed tomorrow.