Marble Hatchetfish (Carnegiella strigata)

Hatchetfish belong to one of the only groups of freshwater fish capable of genuine powered flight rather than just a passive glide, flapping their oversized pectoral fins like wings mid-air to extend a jump well beyond what momentum alone could carry, an escape trick that's been documented clearing several feet above the water's surface. That flat, hatchet-shaped keel of a belly houses the powerful muscle mass driving those wingbeats. A tightly covered tank isn't optional here, it's the one thing standing between this fish and the floor.

Care level: Moderate · Temperament: Peaceful, shoaling · Max size: ~2" · Min tank: 20 gal, tightly covered · Diet: Carnivore, small floating foods