Clown Knife ID

[Norbert]

Are Clown Knives Chitala chitala or Chitala ornata?

How do you tell them apart? Pics on Fish Base for Chitala chitala look more like what most people have but most people claim to have Chitala ornata...I'm confused

Here's mine...which do I have?

 

[benzjamin13]

From what I can figure out on my own...C. Chitala has circular ocellaris while C. Ornate has irregular ocellaris. I could be wrong, but I've been trying to figure this out for myself for the past 5 years now.

So I'm going to say you have C. Chitala.

 

[Miguel]

Isn't Ornata the same as Chitala Chitala?

 

[Andri Pogo]

Not the same. The regular Clown knives are Chitala chitala.
I did a little research on the Chitala family for an Icelandic article on them and found that little is known about the chitala ornata but they are often said to be chitala chitala.
People see the markings and just label them as regular clown knives, which they are (probably) not.
I think the Chitala ornata are the ones with the very small markings, mostly seen as food fish on markets but not in tanks.

Ornata:

 

[Norbert]

Thanks everyone, I'm going with Chitala chitala as well. Ultimately I guess it doesn't matter, I like my knife whatever species he is, just kinda like to know what species my fish are

 

[benzjamin13]

Yeah...they're both labeled as Clown Knives and are basically the same except for some tiny differences. Glad you like your Knife! They're my favorite fish!

 

[Aqua Sanctuary]

Chitala Chitala is Icelandic?

 

[johnny_1993]

ahah. good work (y).
nice knife!

 

[Norbert]

Thanks everyone, I'm going with Chitala chitala as well. Ultimately I guess it doesn't matter, I like my knife whatever species he is, just kinda like to know what species my fish are

Infblue changed my mind , showed me pics of a "true" Chitala chitala that matches the actual description, gold or silver bands across the dorsal surface and NO "occelated" spots etc.

The "common" Clowns are Chitala ornata

Sorry I don't know how to copy the pics of the C. chitala over to here to share with everyone but one of the pics was of a couple fish that Wes (Fugupuff) had/has? So if interested you might be able to search them out.

 

[Norbert]

ahah. good work (y).
nice knife!

Thanks! I like him too