I had a Zebra Knife brought in the other day and am wondering how often they will actually swim around. He is a beauty but have not really seen much of him yet as he has been hiding in the driftwood for 2 days now. I know they like to hide and he most likely has come out and I didn't see it, but does anyone else have any experiences with these fish they could share?
How often should I expect to see my new Zebra Knife Fish?
- Thread starter oddballfishlover
- Start date
Well I didn't have a zebra knife fish, but u could try this trick. I have a BGK and I removed all hiding places and left just one driftwood made cave leaned on the front glass. That way I can see him all the time and he can hide in there all he wants 
oh yea and I also heard they don't see red light, so u can install a red light and turn only that one in the evening and he'll come out, but I haven't tried that one yet.
oh yea and I also heard they don't see red light, so u can install a red light and turn only that one in the evening and he'll come out, but I haven't tried that one yet.
All knifefish prefer to hide most the time and will hide if given hiding places. If large knifefish had large enough places to hide in, they would hide. If you eliminate the hiding places it can hide in, then it will leave them feeling insecure and unhappy. Hiding spots are usually darker as well, which is also why they love them.
My 6.5" CK hides all the time in his cave and rarely comes out, only when the tank is pitch black he comes out...even then he only comes out for a few minutes and then goes back to his hiding place.
My 6.5" CK hides all the time in his cave and rarely comes out, only when the tank is pitch black he comes out...even then he only comes out for a few minutes and then goes back to his hiding place.
Zebra Knives are going to hide most of the time; your best bet is to see if you can't spot him at night when the lights go out. They will hide if given the oppurtunity.
I take the opposite route alot of people do.. and I give my aba aba alot of hideing spots in his tank, so he feels safe and secure that he can "escape". He won't come out generally in full light.. but will cruise around in "dusk" type lighting particularly since he's now associated me with food, one of his favorites being cut-up peices of nightcrawlers. I don't encourage hand-feeding but I drop it in the front of the tank and sit down and he will come out almost immediately to investigate, bloodworms, and blackworms also worked when he was smaller.