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Characiformes (Characins) >
Gasteropelecidae (Freshwater hatchetfishes)
Etymology: Gasteropelecus: Greek, gaster = stomach + Latin, pelecus =hatchet (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Linnaeus.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; pelagic; pH range: 6.0 - 7.0; dH range: ? - 15. Tropical; 23°C - 27°C (Ref. 1672)
South America: Peruvian Amazon, middle Amazon, the Guianas and Venezuela (Ref. 39056). Recorded from the Paraguay basin (Ref. 81048).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 3.9 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 116942)
Gregarious, can sometimes be aggressive or calm. Frequents slow-flowing waters of creeks and swamps (Ref. 27188). Lives in groups at the surface. It is capable of capturing small aerial insects. The females are bigger than the males. Feeds on worms, crustaceans and insects (Ref. 7020). Has not been bred in captivity (Ref. 27188). Aquarium specimens reach 6.5 cm TL (Ref. 7020). Aquarium keeping: in groups of 5 or more individuals; may jump out of the aquarium; minimum aquarium size 80 cm (Ref. 51539).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Weitzman, S.H. and L. Palmer, 2003. Gasteropelecidae (Freshwater hatchetfishes). p. 101-103. In R.E. Reis, S.O. Kullander and C.J. Ferraris, Jr. (eds.) Checklist of the Freshwater Fishes of South and Central America. Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS, Brasil. (Ref. 39056)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: commercial
More information
Common namesSynonymsMetabolismPredatorsEcotoxicologyReproductionMaturitySpawningSpawning aggregationFecundityEggsEgg development
ReferencesAquacultureAquaculture profileStrainsGeneticsElectrophoresesHeritabilityDiseasesProcessingNutrientsMass conversion
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