My Knife Fish Are Building A Nest!

[lil_lara]

I have two seven inch clown knife fish and they have been building a nest! Everything I've read said that this doesnt happen in captivity. Any advice on how to proceed? :feedback:

[rayman45]

:bs:

[piranha45]

Knifes can be amicable with one another, yours are likely just friends... I doubt sexual maturity could happen at such a small size for such a large fish specie. Anyhow, you got any pics of them?

[nick]

stunted perhaps?

[lil_lara]

I can't load any pics at the moment, but I have watched them (at night) move rocks away from a corner area. comopleatly clear the area. They swim and rub up against eacother and try to wrap around eachother. At the very least I think its safe to say I have a male and female

[piranha45]

well, this is interesting, keep us updated on this matter if you don't mind! :)

[Vietrice2k5]

Wow, Cool. Never seen clownknifes breed before. It is probably a site to see. Do you have any pics?

[PredatoryFishMagazine]

I highly doubt that they're breeding. These fish very rarely breed in captivity because they need to be full grown before they spawn. As far as I know, the only reports of these being bred in captivity has been where they were housed in indoor ponds in groups of at least 6. I'm not saying its impossible that yours are going to spawn, I'm just saying it's highly unlikely.

But if you seriously think they are breeding please set up a camcorder and try to get it on tape (just in case), or at the very least take a lot of pictures.

Please keep us updated on this.

[lil_lara]

I will definatly get some pictures for you guys.. But they only seem to do their "dance" at night.

[piranha45]

and take some pics of yourself too while you're at it; 18 yr old girls who actually know what they're talking about are a valuable commodity here :D

[lil_lara]

LOL 19 and engaged :)

[e!o!z!]

Does that mean no pic? :lol:

[froggyman]

thyat would be cool as heck if they spawned

[phene4grene420]

LOL 19 and engaged :)

don't throw your life away at such an early age :y220d:

the leading cause of divorce ~~~~~~~~~~~> marriage

[buddah101]

Thats freakin awesome! I had this happen awhile back but it turned out to be two females. Oh well, better luck to you!

[The TRUST]

7" is way too small for Clown knives to breed. they are probably just redecorating the place. They spawn against vertical structures like tree roots and poles and pilars

[Beowulf]

Any pictures yet?

[butane216]

hell, I'd spawn with an engaged 19 yr old :hitting:

[guppy]

I've never heard of clown knives spawning so small, I hope it works out. Mouse tails will (I've been told, I haven't been that lucky) but they only grow to around 8". They put their eggs on under side of rocks. Shame on you butane216, heheheh.

[thamunsta]

buddah u married 2 females :O

[butane216]

guppy, as was said earlier, the leading cause of divorce is marriage, well in being a smart male... I count on the divorce rate being high... I have to get lucky somehow :hitting:

[butane216]

ok, enough of me being a pig :grinno: , how about some vids.. oh yeah, and some of the fish too :headbang2

[redtailfool]

:topic:

[BGG]

7" is way too small for Clown knives to breed. they are probably just redecorating the place. They spawn against vertical structures like tree roots and poles and pilars
Yep. They simply can not breed at that size. I see clowns and other "featherbacks" rub up against each other very often, it's just casual behavior. Sorry. :( Guppy, who told you about the mousetails breeding? I would be interested to hear about it. :)

[guppy]

Yep. They simply can not breed at that size. I see clowns and other "featherbacks" rub up against each other very often, it's just casual behavior. Sorry. :( Guppy, who told you about the mousetails breeding? I would be interested to hear about it. :)
An older Vietnamese gentleman who owned a lfs in oakland, ca. This was back in 1984-85, he's the one who bought my grow outs and such, mainly for store credit, he sold them at a shop in San Fran, the shop in oakland was mainly big fig fish like aros, large cats, and oddballs, he was the only one I have ever seen selling an angulatus giant hatchetfish 16", he was also one of the very few places that you could get mousetail knives.

[BGG]

Yes, they aren't seen often in the US. Too bad too, they're one of my favorite fish. :(

[LowHyBurner]

how do knife fish normally breed? are they mouth brooders? bubblenest? I have no clue

[DRaGoNoVA]

imho 7" is too small to breed

[Gooda]

Did anything Ever happen with your knives? Did you get any pic's yet? Even if they don't breed, It will be cool just to see the nest and stuff.

[SKYLINE_WJ]

its too small to reach adult.. for breeding..

[trae]

So pics?! or video..? :) I'm interested how are the knives sexed anyway... I have 2 10 inch juvi's who well juste eat...

[fish_monger]

i hope they breed ill be cool but come on people have some fath in a 19 year old

:mwave:

[dookie]

I've bred clown knives before. they breed in the typical cichlid fashion. Mine laid eggs on driftwood. Typically they spawn on vertical substrates like discus fish. both parents guard the eggs and care for the young.

[Kuda]

there not breeding, if anything id say there friends male or female, they reach 3 feet at adulthood your are far from that

[csx4236]

good luck

[black_monster]

there kinda too small to breed... stunted?

[AquariumChicky]

What size tank do you have them in???

[doe-ray-me]

dats reallly nice

[Bud_Man_Jr]

we need pics

[filiportela]

they can be just playin...:character0004: