Description
Pygmy Hatchetfish – The Tiny Acrobat of Your Aquarium
Add a touch of aerial grace and unique charm to your freshwater tank with the Pygmy Hatchetfish, a small but fascinating species known for its distinctive hatchet-shaped body and impressive surface-skimming abilities. This miniature marvel is one of the smallest members of the hatchetfish family, making it perfect for smaller tanks or community setups.
Native to slow-moving rivers and flooded forest areas in South America, Pygmy Hatchetfish thrive near the water surface where they use their specialized pectoral fins to glide and perform agile “jumps,” adding captivating activity to your aquarium. Their peaceful nature makes them excellent tank mates for other small, non-aggressive fish.
Key Features & Care Guidelines:
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Unique Appearance: Small, silver hatchet-shaped body with translucent fins and a reflective sheen.
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Behavior: Surface-dwelling and agile swimmers; known for their ability to “fly” just above the water using wing-like pectoral fins.
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Tank Size: Minimum 10 gallons recommended; prefer tanks with a secure lid as they are skilled jumpers.
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Water Parameters: Prefer soft, slightly acidic water with pH between 6.0 and 7.0, and temperatures from 74°F to 82°F (23°C to 28°C).
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Diet: Omnivorous; thrives on small live or frozen foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp, and finely crushed flakes.
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Tank Setup: Well-planted with calm water, floating plants, and plenty of open surface space.
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Experience Level: Suitable for beginner to intermediate aquarists who maintain stable water conditions.
Invite the playful and elegant Pygmy Hatchetfish into your aquarium and enjoy their unique surface acrobatics and peaceful presence for a truly enchanting aquatic display.
Click & Collect
Livestock will only be bagged once you arrive, or if you contact us in advance to request it ready beforehand.
Local Delivery
Order anything from our in-store range and have it delivered right to you.
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Minimum spend: £50
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Delivery up to 10 miles: £10
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Delivery up to 25 miles: £20
Distances are measured “as the crow flies”, not by road.
Once your order is placed, we’ll be in touch to arrange a suitable delivery date and time.
Please note, delivery may take a little longer as we often group orders together to build an efficient delivery run.
Important: If you’re ordering a large aquarium, please ensure someone is available to help unload the van on arrival.
Dry Goods Delivery
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DPD Next Day: 1 working day (order before 12 noon)
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DX Next Day (Heavy Items & Small Aquariums): 1 working day (order before 12 noon)
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Express Pallet: 1–3 working days
If you'd like to add more items to an existing order that hasn't yet been dispatched, please place a Click & Collect order and leave a note asking us to combine the orders.
Please note: We currently only dispatch parcels Wednesday to Friday.
Pre-Order
Want the full details? Check out our Terms & Conditions.
Livestock Delivery
Thursday Delivery – £24
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Dispatched Wednesday afternoon
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Delivered Thursday before 1pm
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Order by Wednesday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
Friday Delivery – £24
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Dispatched Thursday afternoon
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Delivered Friday before 1pm
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Order by Thursday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
Saturday Delivery – £29
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Dispatched Friday afternoon
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Delivered Saturday before 1pm
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Order by Friday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
📦 Want to Add to an Existing Order?
No problem! Just place a Click & Collect order and leave a note asking us to link it with your original one (as long as it hasn’t been dispatched yet).
🛒 Dry Goods Now Included!
You can now include dry goods in your livestock delivery – perfect for topping up supplies in one go.
❄️ Please note: We can’t send frozen food with livestock – please order frozen items separately.
⚠️ Delivery Exclusions
Unfortunately, we’re unable to deliver livestock to the following postcodes:
Scotland & Isles:
AB30–AB56, DD8–DD10, DG3–DG9, DG12–DG14, FK17–FK21, KA18–KA19, KA26–KA30, PA20–PA38, PA80, PH3–PH40
Cornwall Isles: TR21–TR25
All of the following postcodes are excluded:
BT, HS, IM, IV, JE, KW
Plus Channel Islands and Shetland Islands
Payment & Security
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