African Knife Fish

[Hrafnkel]

How well do African Knife Fish do with smaller schooling fish?

 

[severum mama]

I don't know, but don't they get really huge? Make sure you have the tank space that is needed.

 

[Hrafnkel]

The african variety get to about 9". I repeatedly was recommended them in favor of the larger BGK, when I was looking into that.

 

[severum mama]

So this isn't what you are asking about?
http://www.indiapets.com/fishes/species/fh001.htm

 

[Hrafnkel]

No. I meant the African Knife Fish/Brown Knife Fish. Not the friggin' huge clown version. Didn't realize the clown knifes also went by that name... Common names suck.

 

[severum mama]

Oh, ok. I didn't realize there was another kind. The one you want sounds really cool since it stays small.

 

[Hrafnkel]

Yeah. I just need to find out, y'know, if they eat little fishes.

 

[severum mama]

I would think it would eat whatever it could fit in its mouth. I bet fish like larger tetras and barbs, etc. would be ok, but not small ones like neons and such.

 

[Hrafnkel]

What about things like danios? And do bloodfin tetras count as larger ones?

 

[jaowl]

I am not sure I have what you are referring to but it was called an African Knife fish--has 2 wisker like 'jobbys' by it's mouth-not defined tail but narrows at the tail end. Kinda of a interesting fish!! Mine is in with serpa tetras, neon tetras, & white fins tetras. Nobody disappeared yet. Plus the knife fish does not like the disc-shaped Tetra-Min food--he prefers the flake type.

 

[Hrafnkel]

Is it brown, and shaped similarly to a knife blade?

 

[jaowl]

Mine is kinda brownish black & yes looks like a knife blade. It does not look like the website fish previously posted

Do you have a website with a picture of the fish you are refering to?

 

[Hrafnkel]

Yes, I'll find a link. One moment.

Edit: Here's a link.

http://www.giveusahome.co.uk/allpets/fish/africanbrownknife.jpg

 

[crazycat]

yes, knifefish totally eat small fish. knife fish are not community fish--they are predatory, especially when full grown. they africans may be smaller but if you put them in with your danios, your danios will eventually be lunch! check out http://www.fishbase.org.

 

[jaowl]

I wasn't able to pull up the site you listed but by using 'google' found a website where the pictures resemble my fish. It was called an African Black Knife Fish(http://www.aquariumfish.net/catalog_pages/wild/knifefish_african_black.htm).

I guess if I see my neon tetras missing--time to move the knife fish to the 90 gal goldfish tank!!

 

[Fruitbat]

The fish you're referring to is the African Brown Knife Fish (Xenomystus nigri). The Clown Knife (Chitala ornata) is an Asian fish and does get pretty bit, though there is an African knife fish called the African Featherfin Knife (Papyrocranus afer) that reaches about the same length as the Clown Knife.

Xenomystus nigri is predatory and will take small fish if it can swallow them whole.

-Joe

Here's a picture of X. nigri:

And this is Papyrocranus afer:

 

[Hrafnkel]

Yeah, that's what I was looking at. Would one of those even be able to get hold of danios..?

 

[Fruitbat]

Yes.....a fully grown Xenomystus nigri wouldn't have much trouble nailing an appropriately-sized danio. The Knife Fish is just as fast a swimmer as a danio when it wants to be and, being generally nocturnal, they could easily make the danio disappear when the tank lights are out.

-Joe

 

[Hrafnkel]

Ah. Makes sense, I suppose. The night-time thing didn't occur to me, it's nearly impossible to picture a danio actually NOT moving.

 

[Hrafnkel]

One other thing... What about cories? Would they eat those? And I don't think anyone mentioned the tiger barbs.