The silver hatchetfish (''Gasteropelecus levis'') is a member of the

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

Gasteropelecus ''Gasteropelecus'' is a genus of freshwater hatchetfishes found in Central and South America. This genus includes some popular aquarium fishes. There are currently three described species in this genus. Species * '' Gasteropelecus levis'' ( C. ...

'' in the family

Gasteropelecidae The freshwater hatchetfish are a family, Gasteropelecidae, of ray-finned fish from South and Central America. The common hatchetfish is the most popular member among fish keeping hobbyists. The family includes three genera: ''Carnegiella'' (fou ...

. It is a relatively small fish that is often kept in

aquariums An aquarium (plural: ''aquariums'' or ''aquaria'') is a vivarium of any size having at least one transparent side in which aquatic plants or animals are kept and displayed. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, a ...

. It is compressed laterally, with black and gold lines running along its side, adults will grow up to 3.5 cm in the wild and 6 cm in the aquarium. Silver hatchetfish(Gasteropelecus levis) Ref. 7020
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In the aquarium

It has the capability of "flying" out of an aquarium, so precautions should be taken. It uses the ability to "fly" to catch

insects Insects (from Latin ') are pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates of the class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body (head, thorax and abdomen), three pairs of j ...

References

* Gasteropelecidae Taxa named by Carl H. Eigenmann Fish described in 1909 {{Characiformes-stub

In the aquarium

See also

References