1st Big Tank, considering a Clown Knife, would appreciate opinions

[orkimedes]

Looking for nice centerpiece fish to go along with 3-4 dats and a school of silver dollars.

I just got a 155 gal bow (6ft long x 2ft high x 18in on ends, 24 in in middle wide) and was considering an arowana.

Folks on the arowana forum think tank is too small for long term, so I am now considering a clown knife.

So I ask the same question of the Knife Fish Community, is the 155gal suitable for long term housing of a clown knife? I have seen posts saying they get 36" to 48" in the wild, but most posts seem to indicate they get around 20" in the home aquarium.

Any comments or suggestions by folks with long term experience caring for these fish would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Ork

 

[cl0wn knife]

yet again 2 small, that tank isnt wide enough for any big fish to be honest. id suggest looking at medium sized cichlids to be honest. but gl with your tank

 

[peewee]

i'd rather go with bgk with that tank. not as active as a ck though but grows much slower so would stay in there for some time.

 

[cmj15]

go with a black ghost knife or african clown knife, black ghost knives have a better pattern but african brown knives are much mroe active from what i have seen

 

[TheEelKing]

Black ghost knives are active at night and it can live in your tank for its whole life. They max out at about 20 inches. The datnoids will outgrow your tank as well unless you are going to get an american datnoid which maxes out at 12 inches. Personally, I think a medium-sized, mild mannered cichlid like a severum, an american datnoid, a shoal of 4-5 silver dollars and a black ghost knife would be more realistic to hold in your tank for life. The AT (american datnoid) maxes out at 12 inches. You tank could hold about two fish at that size with the knife and a shoal of SDs. I would only recommend one datnoid in your tank since if you get two, the stronger one will likely harass or even kill the weaker one. The tank isn't big enough to hold too many fish that grows to the size of even the smallest datnoid species which is the AT. So a severum and a datnoid with SD's for dither/target fish and a BGK to round it out would be a better mix, IMO. CKs grow really fast. Mine was about 3 inches 4 months ago and now its already at the 9-10 inch mark.

 

[TheEelKing]

go with a black ghost knife or african clown knife, black ghost knives have a better pattern but african brown knives are much mroe active from what i have seen

The african knife only gets about 8 inches. I don't think it would be safe with a datnoid longterm. The datnoid will outgrow it and is more aggressive especially if they go for the same hiding spot. The BGK is a much better pick, IMO.

 

[rup_pilot]

African clown knife gets huge! I got mine when he was barely 3 inches and now he's 23 inches. He has outgrown my 210 and the tank is definitely too small. They are awesome fish if you have a huge tank. 155 is way too small for an adult clown knifefish or arowana. A group of African cichlids would be nice in a tank that size.

 

[TheEelKing]

African clown knife gets huge! I got mine when he was barely 3 inches and now he's 23 inches. He has outgrown my 210 and the tank is definitely too small. They are awesome fish if you have a huge tank. 155 is way too small for an adult clown knifefish or arowana. A group of African cichlids would be nice in a tank that size.

I think the poster that brought up the african knifefish meant to say "african brown knife" or simply "african knife" which maxes out at 8 inches in captivity, 12" in the wild. Also, I think the thread starter kinda has his heart set on silver dollars and a datnoid so african cichlids won't work with what he wants. That said, I agree that a 155 is far too small for a clown knife longterm which is what you likely have in your 210.

 

[benzjamin13]

Yup...your best bet are either a Black Ghost Knife or an African Brown Knife. If you want a little more action, I'd go with a BGK. I like ABKs, but they tend to be more secretive. Both are great fish. Even if on average that a CK is 20", it would still be pushing it.

African clown knife gets huge! I got mine when he was barely 3 inches and now he's 23 inches. He has outgrown my 210 and the tank is definitely too small. They are awesome fish if you have a huge tank. 155 is way too small for an adult clown knifefish or arowana. A group of African cichlids would be nice in a tank that size.

There are a couple of African Knives. When an "African" Knife is mentioned, people usually refer to Xenomystus Nigri which average 8". There is also Papyocranus Afer which can hit 24", but usually a little less in captivity. Are you sure your "Clown" Knife is African? Clown Knives usually refer to Chitala Ornata which comes from Asia.

 

[rup_pilot]

Yup...your best bet are either a Black Ghost Knife or an African Brown Knife. If you want a little more action, I'd go with a BGK. I like ABKs, but they tend to be more secretive. Both are great fish. Even if on average that a CK is 20", it would still be pushing it.



There are a couple of African Knives. When an "African" Knife is mentioned, people usually refer to Xenomystus Nigri which average 8". There is also Papyocranus Afer which can hit 24", but usually a little less in captivity. Are you sure your "Clown" Knife is African? Clown Knives usually refer to Chitala Ornata which comes from Asia.

You're right mine is from lakes in Asia. Im pretty sure it is Notopterus chitala. It's sold in Ohio as an African clown knife, not sure why. Sorry for the confusion!