• Scientific name: Gasteropelecus sternicla
• Common name:Common hatchetfish
• Synonyms: Clupea sternicla, Thoracocharax sternicla, G. coronatus, Salmo gasteroplecus
• Group: Characins
• Habitat: Brazil, southern tributaries of the Amazon. Guyana, Surinam
• Size: 6,5 cm
• Biotope: In smaller smreams, the species is found in areas of heavier vegetation.
• Social behavior: A peaceful, even timid fish recommended for all community aquariums.
• Diet: Omnivorous, flake foods, small insects such as vinegar flies and mosquito larvae.
• Breeding: Very hard
• Tank: Minimum 80 litres
• Population: 5 fish for 100 litres
• Decoration: Is most confortable with protective planting over head. Floating plants in the tank can be used, but may reduce the space at the surface needed for proper feeding. Cover the tank.
• Temperature: 22-27°C
• pH: 5,8-7,5
• Hardness: 4-15 NK°
• Lifespan: 3-5 years

Description: Not one of the most colorful fish, the base color of the fish is Silver with hints of Yellow or Green. Starting near the gills there is a long stripe that extends to the base of the tail fin, it is also yellow or green in color. The fins are transparent with a slight Golden hue to them. The ventral fins are very small and the back is fairly straight. The wing-like pectoral fins are transparent and often measure up to one-half the fish's overall body length. The sexes is not easily distinguished, but viewed from above the male is more slender.

They have been reports of breeding in the home aquarium. The prospective pair should be well conditioned with a diet of Black mosquito larvae and other small Crustaceans. They deposit their eggs on the floating plants and they hatch in about thirty hours. The fry are very small and have to be feed very fine foods like Infusoria, baby brine and crushed flakes.