View Full Version : Knife fishes
Yo-Zuri
07-09-2005, 7:11 AM
Anyone kept clown or royals before? Can share about their behavior, feeding habits and growth rate?
piranha45
07-09-2005, 10:10 AM
clowns get big fast, can get 20" in two years or less. They're fairly aggressive, don't keep them with small fish or other big aggressive fish; keep them with big peaceful fish. They like eating small fish, but its not too hard to get them to eat fish pellets and other prepared foods; keep the diet carnivorous.
rayman45
07-09-2005, 10:38 AM
there cool.
my royal grew from 6" to 1" inches qyite fast
there cool
but the hide alot ime
'not my kind of fish
lionelfishes
07-09-2005, 11:36 AM
Knives are largely nocturnal feeders and mine were pretty active once the lights went off.
You can still get to see some action with a low-watt light on in the room.
Very shy and reclusive fish, but I love the way the just SUCK in their prey.
It's really awesome when they sneak underneath a fish that's on the surface, dart right up to the top of the tank, and *FWOP!* - inhales the little bugger.
I miss mine already. :cry:
Give all knife fish places to hide, they will get active in the evening/night. If you can add a dim red or a dimmer to you lighting and you will see them active more often. As well as fish they love live shrimp and declawed crayfish. Just use clippers to cut off the crayfish's "thumbs". Clowns get big, most others are smaller and lighter bodied
cavallino
07-09-2005, 11:38 PM
they are invariably intolerant of their own kind..
guppy
07-09-2005, 11:56 PM
they are invariably intolerant of their own kind..
mousetails seem to have very small territories, not much longer tham they are,8" max, but require heavy water flow and a cluttered bottom, they hide under rocks and driftwood, and they have small mouths so guppies are about max for food.
crazystereo
07-12-2005, 9:16 PM
they are invariably intolerant of their own kind..
I disagree. I have three in one tank. One stays on one side, {He's an albino, and the smallest} The other two are almost inseparable.
Juggalo
07-13-2005, 7:34 PM
my little clown earned his spots like 2 weeks ago
i have a little see-thru tube in with it for my veiwing
monique2212
07-13-2005, 7:56 PM
I have had mine for a little more than a year. He went from 1" to 15" in that time. I started feeding him blood worms at first, but that lasted for only a couple of months. When his mouth was big enough I gave him rosy minnows and snall gold fish. Now he is eating about 15 medium minnows every other day!! He only seems to hide in the morning and mid afternoon, after about 4:00 he comes out to swim. Gotta say I love to watch him eat!!!!
Orangaman
07-14-2005, 1:47 PM
how about blak ghost knifes are they quick growers?
MrfisH
07-14-2005, 6:46 PM
wow 15 every other day that must get pricey. thats one of the reasons i decided against a strictly carnivorous fish after my pirhana died. :cry:
cool, any one know where i can get royals in canada?
islander671
07-16-2005, 12:36 AM
love clown knives, had 2... completly opposite personalities. one would attack any fish i would keep with him, except for my dat. other knife got along with any fish...except feeders.
sucks... cant type good, had surgey on lft hand, cant use it..lol
tropicalfishguy
07-16-2005, 10:58 PM
Ya clownknifes get pretty big, had one that was 24" and around 2 yrs old. I kept it with a flowehorn, they got along great, the flowerhorn tried to pick on him a first, but he didn't take any crap and showed the flowehorn he was definatly tough. One recommedation though, make sure the tank is well covered. The one I had would always act very strange when it was going to rain( I know I sound crzy but its true) then one night after a big storm I got up to find my beloved knife dead on the floor. Very sad. And the tank had a cover on it, but it just wasn't heavy enough
*DaisyDarko*
07-16-2005, 11:31 PM
I have a 14" Royal Knife...
He's mean :( I can't keep him with anything else.
He will only eat live food and thawed frozen food like white fish filets and salad shrimp, but his favorite is earthworms.
He's not a quick grower, but he's steady.
Yo-Zuri
07-17-2005, 6:18 AM
Just got myself a knife today!
Yay Yo-zuri! Remembeber to give it at least a partial hiding spot, clear tube will work.
xxclownknfiexx
07-18-2005, 8:39 PM
Great fish. Got a pair of ClownKnife at the same time now both are in a 160 custom. Both are close to 20 inches in length. In the tank with them is two 14" Pacus still growing, a 16" Royal Pleco and a 11" Silver Dollar. Give them a great place to hide. Another note, I notice a lot of knife pics have scratchs and cuts on them. The reason the move fast. Keep the tanks object nice and smooth. Instead of Gravel keep sand and keep round rocks. Food is one problem with this fish. I suggest the first month you have them don't feed them feeders. I made that mistake and that all they eat. Also change water 3 times a month with them and they will grow so fast. Once they get past that 10" mark they really can not hide anymore and come out alot.
fredmenezes
07-20-2007, 12:48 AM
my clownknife is about 16" and he loves the dark. The other fish in the tank know who the king is. By the way his name is KING.
David R
07-20-2007, 1:35 AM
there cool.
my royal grew from 6" to 1" inches qyite fast
That is cool! I always wanted one but I was worried they get too big, now when it gets too big for my 55g I'll just reverse the growth and wait til it gets small again.
:D :D :D
Red Devil
07-20-2007, 8:37 AM
i have mine in his own tank and he is my favorite fish ..i hand feed him.. of course eventually he will have to go into the big tank with the big boys.. because yes they grow fast.. heres his pics :D
jojo_nature
07-20-2007, 9:04 AM
I got 2 clown knife fish (notopterus chitala) when they were 1 and a half inches they looked under weight but soon grew .When they got to about 15 inches i saw one of them try to eat one of my botias and had to get them a new home.I think they are stunning fish just unfortunate that i could'nt keep them in my large community tank.
mgctutor
07-20-2007, 9:09 AM
Heres my boy... He's a little bossy, but gets along quit well w/tank mates...
Red Devil
07-20-2007, 9:11 AM
Heres my boy... He's a little bossy, but gets along quit well w/tank mates...
he is a handsome guy.. i would do anything i could to keep my CK.. what ever it takes.. they are soooo worth it.
jojo_nature
07-20-2007, 9:18 AM
I had 2 clown knife fish (notopterus chitala) they were about 1.5" and looked underwieght but soon grew to about 15" .I saw them trying to eat a botia one day so had to find a new home.I knew how big they grew as my brother keeps different big boys including royal ,clown and ghost knife fish.I just thought i had a little more time .
benzjamin13
07-22-2007, 3:44 PM
Clowns and Royals are pretty similar when it comes to care. They both grow fast and are pretty shy at first until they feel comfortable and then they'll roam around the tank more. They're both nocturnal. Clown Knives are my favorite fish! And since it looks like people are sharing pics...here's mine :D
Red Devil
07-22-2007, 3:55 PM
when i first brought my clown knife home he was on live food.. did not like live food especially because of the possibility of disease ..so got him eating pellets and frozen shrimp, frozen silversides.. he is wonderful and he is my favorite fish.. he is fun to watch and has a great personality.. they grow fast so if you decide on A CK make sure a big tank is in the near future.here is a picture of mine..i am always proud to show him off:D OMG i did not know i already posted here.. oh well here it is again....
Red Devil
07-22-2007, 3:57 PM
Clowns and Royals are pretty similar when it comes to care. They both grow fast and are pretty shy at first until they feel comfortable and then they'll roam around the tank more. They're both nocturnal. Clown Knives are my favorite fish! And since it looks like people are sharing pics...here's mine :D
so funny ... you and i sound so much alike when we discribe our CK.. our favorites..:D yours is beautiful... :D
JardiniBoy
07-22-2007, 7:42 PM
I have a large CK and RCK. IME RCKs grow much faster than CKs. Both of mine usually chill in between a big piece of driftwood and the side of the tank for most of the day, but also often come out to "play". There is no aggression between the two of them and between them and the (numerous) other fish in the tank..
Red Devil
07-22-2007, 8:38 PM
I have a large CK and RCK. IME RCKs grow much faster than CKs. Both of mine usually chill in between a big piece of driftwood and the side of the tank for most of the day, but also often come out to "play". There is no aggression between the two of them and between them and the (numerous) other fish in the tank..
That is so great that they get along..would love to get an RCK too someday
Andri Pogo
07-22-2007, 9:15 PM
I have 3 Clowns, had the first one for 2-3months but the other two for 2-3 weeks...
It was a little risky to put them together but it worked! They were aggressive towards each other the first night but are getting along fine now.
The first one stays in the left corner of the tank behind plants and the other two always together in the right corner :)
They are about 5" and growing fast...
Opposite to what most other say about their CK´s, mine dont eat feeders.
I only give feeders to the Needlenose and those who escape him hide on the bottom and are not bothered by the Knifes :)
Im happy they dont eat feeders as that would be extremly expensive on the long run.
I feed them frozen shrimp, earthworms, lambheart, frozen fish and they love catfish pellets (waiting on my order of carnivour pellets)
Here is a pic of them 3, have to get better pics:
http://www.barnaland.is/album/img/15002/20070707103632_1.jpg