Notopterus notpterus

[Xeno]

Hey,
my favorite shop is offering juvenile Notopterus notopterus right now.
In my new tank (200x55x50cm) I wanted to keep knifefish but since I am keeping Polypterus and Datnioides polota I cannot keep Apteronotus or similar because of their thin bodies in this tank.

Notopterus notopterus is a fish having proportions which would make it possible to be kept with Polys and Dats.
But the question is:
how big do they really get in captivity?
Some sources are talking about 60cm which would be WAY too large!
Other say they'll stop growing when reaching about 40cm.

 

[Hendre]

They will probably reach somewhere between there with the right care. Nigri knives may work, mine are getting quite chunky now compared to when I got them

 

[Xeno]

Hey,
X. nigri ended up as food for Polypterus since they stopped growing with about 18cm and the Senegalus reached 30cm.
It's quite important that IF I want to keep knifefish in this tank they get big enough to not end up as food.

Within the last days I found many threads about N.notopterus in which the biggest one reached 35cm after years.
This size would be ok.

 

[Hendre]

The senegals ate the nigri?

Maybe get some and see how it goes

 

[Xeno]

Hey,
Yeah!
The wildcaught Senegalus even ate two smaller Senegalus.

I guess it depends on the personality of the bichir.
My Delhezis are peaceful specimen not wildcaught and not used to eat living fish at all.

Rhamphichthys or Apteronotus albifrons would be other options.

 

[Hendre]

I'm probs sticking with CB polypterus, I don't want my knives to get chowed.

I don't really know those groups of knifefish sorry

 

[benzjamin13]

N. Notopterus are more aggressive and usually larger than X. Nigri. Biggest I've seen was about 30cm, but I rarely see these guys up for sale here. So I haven't had a chance to keep one myself.