Big Knifes?

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softturtle

softturtle

Piranha
MFK Member
Jun 9, 2005
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N.W. Indiana
Been thinking about keeping knifes for a while now and I know some of you have to be keeping knife fish (any kind). So, its time to start my fish back ground check. I was wondering If you guys and girls have any info and pics of these guys. At the lfs ,I was talking to a guy who said he had some "clown knifes" that were near about 20 inches long. I had no idea they got big (and the guy told me they get bigger). I always see little 4-5 inchers at the stores. So, If you have an opinion or picturs post it up. I would like to have a setup with some of those if they can thive with other fish (even the same species).
 
softturtle said:
Been thinking about keeping knifes for a while now and I know some of you have to be keeping knife fish (any kind). So, its time to start my fish back ground check. I was wondering If you guys and girls have any info and pics of these guys. At the lfs ,I was talking to a guy who said he had some "clown knifes" that were near about 20 inches long. I had no idea they got big (and the guy told me they get bigger). I always see little 4-5 inchers at the stores. So, If you have an opinion or picturs post it up. I would like to have a setup with some of those if they can thive with other fish (even the same species).
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They do get bigger in the wild but usually in home aquaria they do not go over 20" mark. Sorry dont have much info, never actually kept any myself.
 
The only ones I have kept were small types like mousetails and barred knives.
 
I thought over 20 inches was kinda fishy.. Ahhh, Who knows?
 
softturtle said:
Been thinking about keeping knifes for a while now and I know some of you have to be keeping knife fish (any kind). So, its time to start my fish back ground check. I was wondering If you guys and girls have any info and pics of these guys. At the lfs ,I was talking to a guy who said he had some "clown knifes" that were near about 20 inches long. I had no idea they got big (and the guy told me they get bigger). I always see little 4-5 inchers at the stores. So, If you have an opinion or picturs post it up. I would like to have a setup with some of those if they can thive with other fish (even the same species).
Click to expand...

Ive kept several in the past but find them new homes before they get to 20". i have seen some in public aquaria around 3 ft. they are nocturnal and love live food. ive had one that had no issues with fish that were to big to eat, and yet ive had another that could not stand the company of any fish at anytime. wonderful animals if you can house them. dont expect too much during the daytime unless your feeding them, they usually stay hidden until night time. I have a video in the gallery of one feeding in the dark.
 
my clown knife reach 22" in about 4 years.. i think they max at 24" in captivity :)
 
Nu koi lfs in Medford, Or. had one in their display tank that was easily 20+"
 
My clownknifes only ate feeders and shrimp, nothing else. They are weird and interesting fish. They wil grow big quick if you feed them a lot like I did. They are noctural fish so if they r kept in a tank with daytime fish, they might stress them out at night, unless u get a big enough tank. Once they grow over a foot tho they r beautiful fish and fun 2 watch at night.
 
Ive seen frozen clown knives in a market before.. they are considered a delicacy actually but ive never tried any before. Anyway the clown knife (Notpterus Chitala) is from south east asia and grows up to 39 inches. They require temperatures of 75F to 85F, pH of 6 to 6.5. They feed on anything meaty.
Provide an aquarium with rocks and some wood for decorations but make sure there are no sharp objects as the fish can damage itself pretty easily. They also need good filtration. They can also be belligerent and are best kept alone, they prey on other fishes as well.
 
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