Clown knifefish - Chitala chitala question

[Peter McFarlane]

hey people

i've seen two clown knifes for sale at about 14"-16" each

they are big fish but there mouths look small in comparison to overall body size.

how big would tank mates have to be to avoid becoming dinner?

thanks in advance

pete

 

[Tom500]

It depends totaly on the fish but they have very large mouths and potentially if it was really determined a 16" CK could eat a 6" fish but i have an 18" one with fish as small as 3-4" so like i say depends on the mentality of that particular fish, try get one that has lived in a community with varied size fish if you buy one off someone.
Hope this helps pm me if you have any more questions

 

[midnightCK]

biggest one of mine is 16-17 inches. does fine with my botia clan. theres 1 thats still inchand a half, the other 4 are like 3 and a half inches

though it did kill my clownloaches.x3 saved 3!. they were 4 inches... sucks...i think if it can see it well and it can fit it in its mouth.. dont try.. my tanks pretty black so the botias must be using the camo .

plus f he 14 16 your looking at 2 ft in the next couple years.. u should look into gettin other monsters as mates. not so much smalller budds.

 

[moneygetter1]

Don't underestimate that small head!! Those jaws can expand enough to consume a 4/6" fish w/ ease. Some will overlook the temptation but nocturnal hunting is their speciality so I'd remove the possible temptation. "T"

 

[Red Devil]

my clown knife is 16 inches and has never once bothered any fish.. i have 5 angels in his tank that have been there since the beginning.. so it depends on the fish.. mine eats no live food.. this may play a big part in tank mates welfare.. so i don't know what to say except to find out who their prior tank mates were and what they were eating... from their past owner if possible..

 

[Miguel]

That small mouth is a trap! It opens like the belly of a cargo plane.

Beware the night!

 

[killarbb]

all will be ok, right up until it isnt.

 

[benzjamin13]

They look like they don't have big mouths, but their mouths are like a giant vacuum. It's probably safe for fish that is 2/3 smaller...even half might be safe, but I wouldn't trust that even.

 

[Peter McFarlane]

thanks everyone for the info.

glad i found all this out before i bought them, could have been mayhem in my community tank lol

are they fin nippers? or they'll only attack if they think they can actually fit the whole fish in their mouth?

thansk again

 

[ettfettbranamn]

That small mouth is a trap! It opens like the belly of a cargo plane.

Beware the night!

not that I don't agree but that sounds like the dying dramatic guy in a horror movie..


Beware.. *sigh* the... ...night.. *dead*