Rearranging a 200 gallon for a 22" knife fish

[GoneJohnson]

If you followed from my welcome thread thanks. Here’s my situation...

I acquired an 11 inch Clown knife from a friend about 6 or more years ago. He grew to about 18" in a corner or L shaped tank about 140- 150 gallons - inside measurements. Each L or long side was 60" and 16" from front to back on the sides so the corner is a 5 sided what ever from about 28" up to 32". So before he started eating everyone. I moved him...

The L shaped tank actually has a few more square inches of foot print. It is 2” to 4" shorter I’ve wondered if he might be better in the L tank. - no?

He is 22” long and 7” in height. I would guess he is 8 to 12 years old.

Last year in April of 2010 I got a 200 gallon 72” tank and built a large rock cave area also kept the top covered and the back and side had darker weed decor. He took to it good. Always stayed there. One day last month he just moved to the center of the tank.
I have minimal lighting. Only 1 24” bulb over the side the cichlids reside more. There is a lot of natural light.

I could not find enough “info” for my needs so I am looking for your comments and suggestions.

He eats a variety of frozen fish and shrimp, live gold fish, different pellets, few worms in summer and fresh minnows.

In the tank with the Clown knife I have - A 8” long Catfish, A 6” long and 5” tall Green Sevran - bigger with fins, A 6” Jack Dempsey, 3 - 4” or 5” Convicts, a 6” and a Parrot fish and 2 - 10” plecatamouses, Convicts could become dinner.

I am considering centering in the back of tank a piece of Plexiglas smoothed corners 3 foot long with a 90 degree bend in it - and position it at the back of tank then cover it with rocks and gravel. I was considering making it at least 10” tall and 8” wide but really have no clue as to what sizes of area they need, like, want. Do they prefer small/tight spots or roomy?

Thanks for any input or thoughts.

I’ve read enough to tell and can see a bigger tank indeed would be nice and needed. I might have to think about getting rid of him. A tank that big seems to expensive. I’ve seen good deals on used ones but not in NW Montana.

 

[GoneJohnson]

I decided to build about a 36" long, 10" tall and 8'' deep made from a mix of a cut up plastic tote and Plexiglas reinforcement - might even glue some rocks on to it.. I'll keep the center smooth. Then I'll position it near center of the tank against the back wall of my 200 gallon tank. That allows access to enter both ends. It will also be covered by a number of different rocks, turfs, to blend in...Any suggestions?

 

[nitrofish1]

ill reply then.... your idea sounds good, but i think they would prefer roomy over the tight spaces, especially since your putting him in a bigger tank and he could grow a little bit. if you do a good job of hiding the fact that its a plastic tote and make it look good with rocks and such, your gonna be golden.

 

[benzjamin13]

Clown Knives are natural ambush predators. In the wild they hide in caves, between rocks and/or plants where they will lunge out of hiding for their prey. So in essence, as long as you have a few hiding spaces for it, it'll be fine. They tend to squeeze into small spaces when they are young, but as they become larger, they will swim out in the open.

 

[blackghostknife]

and they love live feeder platys and ghost shrimp. Using live foods helps encourage breeding and you will get to see their natural hunting behaviors