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

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Guys, he wants a datnoid. While I agree that a 155 isn't large enough to hold one of the larger datnoid species, the American/Silver Datnoid is about the only species that a 155 can hold for life and likely only up to two or three. The silver dat maxes out at 12 inches and since the rule of thumb is to get one datnoid or 4 or more, I think the best option is to get one silver dat and a similar-sized, mildly aggressive cichlid like a severum. Putting four 12-inch fish in a 155 for life with silver dollars and a BGK is crowded. I'd say just get one silver dat, one severum or similar sized cichild with the same temperament (avoid oscars or anything more aggressive than oscars), 4-5 silver dollars and a BGK. I don't know if I would trust any spiney eel save a fire eel or tire track eel with a datnoid. Smaller eels like the peacock may end up as lunch one day while both the fire eel and tire track eels will get to 3 feet. A 155 is too small for one of the larger eels as well. Come to think of it, there is a smaller spiney eel that grows to 28 inches and resembles a tire track eel. That's big enough to live with the datnoid. Maybe that can be an alternative to the BGK if the thread starter wants to consider something else.
 
Thanks for your input folks, tank is still empty as I sort out the stocking. I am still back on forth on what the "centerpiece" fish is going to be. I am seriously considering a BGK based on these comments.

Great forum, thanks again.
 
Benzjamin13 has it right on the money! A Papyrocranus Afer is what your after. I have 2 one growing out (about 6") and the other is currently in a 90G (about 10"). They get nowhere near the size of a clown and their body shape more resembles the ABK and not a clown (fullgrown) or BGK. They are agro fish and would hold their own against a shoal of silver dollars. And why not get one oscar as a centerpiece?

The P. Afer goes by the name of 'African featherfin' or 'reticulated knife' or 'marbled knife' I have a post or 2 in this section with pics, as Ben spelled it wrong originally so Google couldn't recognize the fish I was looking for.
 
I think the 155 would work for any species of Dats for a long time. I keep Dats in my 150 knowing that someday i will need to re-home some of them. These are not Pacu or oscars. I know if I ask a reasonable price Dats any size will sell in hours. I still think I have 5-6 years minimum before I need to change much. I am not power feeding. It is not a contest to see who can stuff a Dat the fastest!
 
i seen a beautiful planted bow front before just put black sand and plenty of lighs and throw on south americans like rams and teetras and discus and angels and clown loaches and lots of cory cats and 2 tire track eels
 
reticulate-knifefish-profile.jpg


Here's a picture, closest to what my bigger Ret. knife looks like. This guy is aggressive too, but he can't take as well as he can give though, so aggressive cichlads are not a good choice, but something that's known to nips fins might work out on the other hand, like your original choice of silver dollars, which I have with my P. Afer now.

But be warned to grow this group together to keep nipping, from both species, to a minimum.
 
Sick. BGKs need low light and a slower current. At first it may be tentative to come out, but slowly it will get used to your aquarium!
 
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