Clown knife... with no spots?

[cvermeulen]

LFS has a 9" silver knife fish. shaped just like a clown knife fish, only it has no spots on it. I almost want to buy him because it's strange. Is this common? is he a clown knife? I thought maybe he's an african knife, but they are brownish I think.

He'd be going into an already populated tank... would it be likely to eat my 2" loaches?

 

[Death Pony]

This is not very common. Does it have the clown knife shape? If so, get it!

 

[pirarucu319]

i'll have it..rare..it's better if got odd spot, 1 or 2..

 

[benzjamin13]

It's probably a C. Lopis. It's definitely a harder find than the average knife. It's the largest Asian Knife fish species. around 5'

 

[cvermeulen]

I'm tempted, he looks nice - has the clown knife shape. I'd have to re-house my loaches though I think. Maybe they'll hang on to him until I get my other tank running.

 

[WyldFya]

Most likely it is Chitala lopis. I have been seeing more and more of C. lopis lately.

 

[deR]

ask the owner what kind of knifefish it is. Sometimes Clown Knives loose there spots or color because of stress they will regain them later on when they settle down. If you ever see a tank full of baby clown knives some will have no spots because of this. If it is a Chitala Lopis i would buy it in a heart beat they are so nice looking when huge.

 

[cvermeulen]

well I went and had another look at it. I don't think it's a lopis - it's a dark silvery brown color, about 8-9", and it does have the little flag of a dorsal fin that a clown would have, but it's face isn't as shovel-shaped as a CK, it's got a gentler curve to it, like a mix of a CK and a BGK. There are only two knives I can find (Brown Knif and African Knife) with this coloration, but I don't think either of those has the dorsal fin. wtf!

 

[cvermeulen]

Maybe I'll go put a deposit on him. Worst case I can put him in one of my new 50gal's

 

[benzjamin13]

Then it's possible that you're looking at Notoperus Notoperus. Also known as the Asian Black Featherfin or Bronze Knife. They average about 12" and I've heard that they are the most aggressive out of the Asian Knife species.