Mac the Knife

[jayne]

Hi
I bought Mac a while ago,he was labelled as a Thermometer Knifefish but I have been unable to find a Latin name for him.
He is about 8" long at present,sleeps all day on his side on the sand in the shade,looking for all the world like a corpse,but then comes to life in the evening to rake through the sand with his long pointed nose to 'suck' up fozen bloodworm,brineshrimp etc.
He currently lives alone as I'm a bit unsure about what type of tankmates would be suitable,but he seems happy enough and seems to be getting,if not fatter,then at least less thin :ROFL:
I think he's a real oddball and would love to hear any more info. about him if anyone out there can help
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee144/jaystefbill/mactheknife024.jpg
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee144/jaystefbill/mactheknife011.jpg
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee144/jaystefbill/mactheknife009.jpg
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee144/jaystefbill/mactheknife022.jpg
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee144/jaystefbill/mactheknife008.jpg
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee144/jaystefbill/mactheknife003.jpg

[MsMassPoly]

awesome!We want one.

[Andri Pogo]

weird, never seen one before. :)

[benzjamin13]

The body looks familiar, but the patterns are different. I think I've seen them before, but all brown. I forgot the name...Trumpet Knife? Have you tried googling Thermometer Knife Fish?

[dark_knights_99]

kinda resembles the elephant nose dont ya think?

[aranos]

Sweet fish. Family Rhamphichthyidae, genus Gymnorhamphichthys, but you got me on the species. All I can say is that it isn't Rondoni. I've got a couple fish from the same family, and they do the same 'playing dead' during the day. Mine love to wedge themselves into a ball of java moss or between the leaves of other plants towards the bottom of the tank, I think for the shade, so you might spend three pennies and pick up a nice shade tree for the guy :) You can keep him with any fish that would leave him alone and not out-compete him for food, they're not aggressive at all. When I first got them, I could see their little ribs behind their head like I can with yours. Give em a few months and a lot of bloodworms and they'll bulk up to a health weight. Good luck, and make sure to post some picks on the gymnotiform thread too: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77750

[hbluehunter]

Never seen one before but sweet looking though....