View Full Version : Aba knifefish
Stone Like Fish
11-19-2005, 6:02 AM
all the info on these please
Stone Like Fish
11-19-2005, 5:35 PM
bump
cool at under a foot size. bigger than that, killing machine. not by experience though, cuz each time i want to buy one, i get talked out of it.
Okay,big, mean, African, and hardy. Theya re egglaying nestbuilders that live in marshes from Northern to middle Africa. They have very strong jaws and bite if annoyed, they eat fish, amphibs, reptiles, birds, rats, and inverts. Water in standard tropical temp, range, pH 6.5-8, dH 10-25, turbitity not important. They can get to 5' 7" and slightly over 40 pounds.
One of our sellersoften carries them, Rehobotho, go through the member Africanman.
Stone Like Fish
11-20-2005, 1:46 AM
they look like such a beautiful fish, so, what tank size for one for life?
how long could one last in a 358gallon (200cm long 90cm wide and 75cm high)
They are not as limber as eels so need enough width to turn and get 167.5 cm long, tank for one at full growth should be at least 180 cm wide and 300 cm long, 1 meter deep would be fine but still that is nearly 4800 liters. I only found one reference to growth rate and it was incomplete, If I read it right 50cm in first year and full growth in just over 5 years but I could be reading this wrong, everything but the numbers is in russian.
Steve_89
11-20-2005, 4:03 AM
they look like such a beautiful fish, so, what tank size for one for life?
how long could one last in a 358gallon (200cm long 90cm wide and 75cm high)
Do you know where to get them in AUS?
Stone Like Fish
11-20-2005, 4:46 AM
were are you in aus? i know of people who will ship one over
Steve_89
11-20-2005, 6:13 AM
Im in QLD,
You?
Stone Like Fish
11-21-2005, 2:45 AM
were in queensland?
Steve_89
11-21-2005, 6:55 AM
Brisbane area. You?
Big Business
11-21-2005, 11:00 AM
I'm going to get a 4" one of these within the next few weeks. I've heard mix things about these fish. has anyone actually had one?
can they have any tank mates? like a wolf fish, caiman, jardini, pbass, large channa, dorado or rtc? or anything else?
people have said they can take down small nile crocs but that means nothing. some birds eat baby crocs.
how bad is their bite? make you bleed a little or remove some fingers?
:feedback:
Stone Like Fish
11-22-2005, 2:41 AM
i'm in dalby, about 3-4hours away, near towoomba
what interesting fish you got?
Steve_89
11-22-2005, 4:36 AM
Cichla
Datnoid
Red Tail Giant Gourami
Leichardti
Im only 16 so I dont have room for an extensive collection :(
What do you keep? Have you got MSN?
marshy
11-22-2005, 7:55 AM
Cichla
Datnoid
Red Tail Giant Gourami
Leichardti
Im only 16 so I dont have room for an extensive collection :(
What do you keep? Have you got MSN?
Damn.. how'd you get a Dat in Aussie?
I love this site. Brings monster fish keepers together around the world! :woot:
Stone Like Fish
11-22-2005, 4:36 PM
I love this site. Brings monster fish keepers together around the world! :woot:
indeed
hey dude i got msn messenger,
add me gra_lin@msn.com
Steve_89
11-22-2005, 8:46 PM
Damn.. how'd you get a Dat in Aussie?
By knowing the right people.
Oh and a lot of money :ROFL:
Steve_89
11-22-2005, 8:47 PM
I love this site. Brings monster fish keepers together around the world! :woot:
Totally agree :thumbsup:
Stonelikefish - I added you mate.
ehyou19
11-23-2005, 1:21 PM
Hey turdbuglar. I have one now, actually it's my fourth. my previous three died within the first two weeks because i bought them very young, i forget how long they were. The one i have now is going on to nine months and doing well. I bought him i think about 5inches. it was slightly bigger than the previous three. i am bringing him up in a 55 gal (way too small but fine for now) with discus, an emperor tetra, false siamenses, and a 10.5 in blackghost. i know its kinda an odd combination of fish but when they are small, they are a lot more peaceful than when they are over a foot. also he did not attack any of the fish that were in the tank before he moved in, but killed everything that was added after. (i had a few neons in there for three months before i forgot to feed and he ate them) the aba grows super slowly he's only about 7 inches now. i love my aba.
DeLgAdO
11-23-2005, 1:24 PM
Do you know where to get them in AUS?
you dont want one
trust me. . .
I just bought four today from Wes (Rarefish). Their belly is full of black worms. They are about 3-4 inches tip to tip. In their tank, they have three 3" endlicheris, also from Wes :). I also bought four 3-4" coal grunters. They are now with my 18 mangrove snappers. Back to topic.
I want to find out how bad are these aba aba. So I'm gonna see if I can grow one out the four I purchased. Now I'm really interested to find out for myself. I'll just have to resurrect this post when the time comes.
Steve_89
11-24-2005, 2:12 AM
you dont want one
trust me. . .
Yeah I know :ROFL:
dimebag
11-25-2005, 2:28 AM
nice fish
Big Business
11-28-2005, 4:17 PM
Hey turdbuglar. I have one now, actually it's my fourth. my previous three died within the first two weeks because i bought them very young, i forget how long they were. The one i have now is going on to nine months and doing well. I bought him i think about 5inches. it was slightly bigger than the previous three. i am bringing him up in a 55 gal (way too small but fine for now) with discus, an emperor tetra, false siamenses, and a 10.5 in blackghost. i know its kinda an odd combination of fish but when they are small, they are a lot more peaceful than when they are over a foot. also he did not attack any of the fish that were in the tank before he moved in, but killed everything that was added after. (i had a few neons in there for three months before i forgot to feed and he ate them) the aba grows super slowly he's only about 7 inches now. i love my aba.
thanks for the info
arapaimag
12-02-2005, 1:18 AM
they look like such a beautiful fish, so, what tank size for one for life?
how long could one last in a 358gallon (200cm long 90cm wide and 75cm high)
I keep mine (approx 34") in a 540 gal (96"x48"x26") he is 5yrs old.
A pet shop I know sold one to the Toronto Zoo many years ago and it got to 5' after 17 years.
arapaimag
12-02-2005, 1:21 AM
I just bought four today from Wes (Rarefish). Their belly is full of black worms. They are about 3-4 inches tip to tip. In their tank, they have three 3" endlicheris, also from Wes :). I also bought four 3-4" coal grunters. They are now with my 18 mangrove snappers. Back to topic.
I want to find out how bad are these aba aba. So I'm gonna see if I can grow one out the four I purchased. Now I'm really interested to find out for myself. I'll just have to resurrect this post when the time comes.
Good luck with these and keep us posted how they are doing
Any way to make them eat? I knew one who kept that knife fish and they would not eat.
arapaimag
12-02-2005, 2:19 PM
Any way to make them eat? I knew one who kept that knife fish and they would not eat.
The best way is to put them in a small tank the first few weeks. Surround them with guppies. feed them earthworms. Once they are eating try them on frozen smet, whitefish makeral etc before putting them in a larger tank. My best success with them has been to keep them in a tank by themselves.
Big Business
12-08-2005, 11:57 AM
I bought a 7" aba last weekend and put it in a temporary grow tank. and within an hour my 4" red finned wolf bit a chunk out of it's head and killed it.
Good luck with these and keep us posted how they are doing
I have one left. two has died of unknown reasons, and one was eaten by a 3" endlicheri bichir. Hopefully this last one will survive, looks strong, but the other two looked the same too. I don't know how fast they grow. So far, I have not seen any growth on the last one that I have, it is about 2-3 inches.
Charney
12-09-2005, 5:45 PM
I have one that I bought from Rehoboth aquatics about a year ago. I have him housed with polyptures and pearl gouramis. It is pushing ten iches and is very docile. I feed it frozen and fish and sometimes throw feeders in there for fun. My aba aba only comes out at night, so I do not see him much. I think I am going to add a couple more fish to the tank while he is still not aggressive. WHen I first got the fish my banded knife almost killed him, so I sold the knife.
Garfield
12-11-2005, 10:02 AM
Heard they are not a problem when they are 10 inches and below....a monster after 10 inches....has yet to see one....but the price offered here are so expensive.....
Stone Like Fish
12-28-2005, 4:19 AM
can you guys please get pics of yours?
shawnchen89
01-11-2006, 2:36 PM
cool at under a foot size. bigger than that, killing machine. not by experience though, cuz each time i want to buy one, i get talked out of it.
izzit seasonal? here in sg, some of the fish farms i asked say tt they're seasonal, so cant get them during certain periods of the year...
Yes they are seasonal. I have two, one I picked up local (Wes), and the other one is from a wholesaler. The one I got from Wes (originally 3, one got eaten, one died), is doing reat right now, it's about 3-4 inches. The one I got from a wholesaler is about 8-10 inches. Very fat, but still very shy. I have him in a 240 with some cichlids(Festae, Loselei, red bay snook, and some flowerhorns), and a baramundi. So far it is still very shy, and not territorial yet. I don't know when they go in transition from bring shy to become monsters. Maybe in another three months, or six.
Note: Sorry Toyin, I know I asked you to let me know when you get some in, but I got these guys before you listed your stock. Remember you told me they get very mean. I wish I could keep the ones you have, no space. If anyone likes monster fish, Toyin has a couple of Aba, one 15+ inches, and the other is 22+ inches.
shawnchen89
02-01-2006, 12:41 PM
jus got one today... so cute!!!!! but he doesnt seem very adept at catching the feeder platies tht i throw in... my 3 endis however are enjoying the feast... (got 100+ pieces of platies for buffet style feeding, and another 100+ pieces of goldfish feeders to last me the next 3 days)
jus got one today... so cute!!!!! but he doesnt seem very adept at catching the feeder platies tht i throw in... my 3 endis however are enjoying the feast... (got 100+ pieces of platies for buffet style feeding, and another 100+ pieces of goldfish feeders to last me the next 3 days)
Well, remember the above post, I bought 4, two died, one got eaten by my almost same size endlicheri, and now the last one is missing. Can't find a carcass or any sign of it, just vanished. So I only have one left that I bought from another seller, and is about 8 inches. Still somewhat skittish and not mean. Hopefully this one grows, cause this is the sixth one I've tried to keep. Fortunately, the 8" aba is eating beefheart.
shawnchen89
02-03-2006, 1:21 PM
Well, remember the above post, I bought 4, two died, one got eaten by my almost same size endlicheri, and now the last one is missing. Can't find a carcass or any sign of it, just vanished. So I only have one left that I bought from another seller, and is about 8 inches. Still somewhat skittish and not mean. Hopefully this one grows, cause this is the sixth one I've tried to keep. Fortunately, the 8" aba is eating beefheart.
really no luck with them eh? this is my first try at the aba, hopefully this guy keeps at it... finally today i saw it catch a small platy...
arapaimag
05-02-2006, 10:02 AM
Anybody out there with large Aba's over 3 feet?
Vince
05-02-2006, 11:35 AM
Anybody out there with large Aba's over 3 feet?
I wish I have one that size. You got one for sale ? :) :naughty: I think one guy in the P.I. got one, dtgshark? Like I mentioned up top, I had four tiny ones, and they all died on me. The 8" is alive still and thriving, and seen it feed on frozen smelt. Seems to grow veryyy slooowwww....or do they grow fast?
ehyou19
05-25-2006, 2:26 AM
Hey turdbuglar. I have one now, actually it's my fourth. my previous three died within the first two weeks because i bought them very young, i forget how long they were. The one i have now is going on to nine months and doing well. I bought him i think about 5inches. it was slightly bigger than the previous three. i am bringing him up in a 55 gal (way too small but fine for now) with discus, an emperor tetra, false siamenses, and a 10.5 in blackghost. i know its kinda an odd combination of fish but when they are small, they are a lot more peaceful than when they are over a foot. also he did not attack any of the fish that were in the tank before he moved in, but killed everything that was added after. (i had a few neons in there for three months before i forgot to feed and he ate them) the aba grows super slowly he's only about 7 inches now. i love my aba.
its been a while and he's killed everyone in the tank except for my discus and hi fin pangasius. he's also recently killed a jardini so i would say that at over 8 inches they will kill everything but he's well over a foot now.
vinodlaxmikanth
06-01-2006, 3:52 AM
I'm a bit worried about the Aba Aba i have. I'm currently rearing a young Aba Aba with a young fly river turtle and a young silver arowana in the same tank. Is that possible?
Are they compatible?
Should i expect any problems in the future??? What size tank would be ideal eventually to house all three of them??
dtgshark
06-01-2006, 8:35 AM
hi there guys, to help give you guys an idea of an adult aba aba's possible tankmates, here are some updated pics of my 3 ft aba aba with two 3 ft silver aros and an almost 4 ft alligator gar. That pleco you see on the ground is about 16 inches and they all live peacefully with some flower horns. they are in a 3000 gal wall tank in my living room. Enjoy. :)
hewhorunswithscissors
06-01-2006, 12:43 PM
thats it. You convinced me. I was always told they cannot live with ANYTHING. Obviously NOT true. I am going to get one for my 720 gal to live with black aro, ATF, pbass, and a few misc big fish.
gonna try
dtgshark
06-02-2006, 8:56 AM
go for it hew, aba abas are very nice to watch and interesting fish to have. There is one thing that you should keep in mind to be successful, big open space! My success in rearing him together with other fish is mainly due to Big Open Space for them to run from the aba's aggression. And also of course enough food to keep him full at all times which helps lessen his aggression towards other fish. There is always a risk though specially to bottom dwelling fish like him. Good luck.
vti_11
06-02-2006, 2:53 PM
Anybody out there with large Aba's over 3 feet? Bro, I hav one 4 feet u interested?
vinodlaxmikanth
06-05-2006, 12:23 PM
bad news.... my aba aba died over the weekend. It apparently had wounds over its head and under its throat but i'm not too sure those were the causes for its death. Now, i'm rethinking the idea of rearing this fish since they're don't seem to be very hardy or easy to feed when they're young. whatmore, they eventually require such a massive tank and are aggressive against other tankmates...so ya...
anyone can convince me otherwise???
mayb e the featherfin upside down that i've been keeping together with it was the cause for it's wounds and subsequent death...
any thoughts or comments on that???
stotty
06-05-2006, 12:47 PM
Dont know if any one has mentioned this but they are Weakly electric fish.They have a electric discharges of the sinusoidal type used for electrolocation. So no sticking your tung on it:WHOA:
jimsuy
08-24-2007, 4:31 AM
VERY NICE FISH... NICE TANK TO...