Silver Hatchet Chela

About

The Silver Hatchet Chela (Chela cachius) is a small cyprinid from the lowland ponds, ditches, and slow-moving rivers of Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. Its most immediately recognizable feature is an unusually deep body for its length. That compressed, almost disc-like profile is distinctive enough that you're unlikely to mistake it for any closely related species. It currently stands as the sole recognized member of its genus, though researchers suspect additional species may yet be described from Myanmar. Despite its modest size, this is an energetic, restless fish that never really stops moving. That constant activity isn't aggression exactly, but it can unsettle shy or sluggish tankmates, so pairing it with robust, active companions, many cyprinids, loaches, and catfish work well, is the sensible approach. Like most schooling species, it genuinely needs the company of its own kind; a group of eight to ten or more will settle in noticeably better than a smaller handful, showing calmer behavior and more natural movement patterns. Breeding in captivity hasn't been documented in any detail, though the species reportedly spawns readily in outdoor ponds and small waterways in its native range. Its adaptable nature and tolerance of a fairly wide range of water conditions make it a workable choice for a community setup with an experienced beginner or intermediate keeper.