Size when clowns don't get along?

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Isis_Nebthet

Candiru
MFK Member
May 14, 2005
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I keep reading clown knives can be kept together when young but when they're older they'll kill each other. Okay....what size is this?

I have two that are in the 12" range and I'm wondering if/when I should prepare to separate them.
 
I would watch them closely.. They will act more aggressive towards night time.. If you leave the lights off and can watch them, you might notice the dominant knife. Also, you might just hear some splashing coming from the tank. You will also wake up to find battle wounds on one or the other..

Perhaps this information was stated, regarding the fact that often people keep these MONSTER fish in undersized tanks? They should be in 180g+ tanks, minimum, but perhaps since people are trying to stuff them in 90gs, they fight? I have had friends who had a pair from 1" to 24" in a 240g tank, and they were 'buddies' because of the other tankmates they had..
 
I got these two this summer about this size (they've grown some but I've never really measured them). They're in 150 gallons for the time being (I know they'll out grow this but for now the tank looks roomy) with a Jack Dempsey. I was going to build a tank for the knives and my two marbled gobies but I ended up moving so now I have to build a fish house or come up with some good heat exchangers so the tank can be outside.

I think they've been together since they were young that was the impression I got from the people that gave them to me anyhow. Someone had dropped them off at their shop but since they wanted to sell african cichlids they had to get the clowns out of that display pond (they normally sell reptiles not fish).

I'll go ahead and get some light covering to divide the tank just in case.
 
I currently have a clown knife he is about 14" Im setting up my 265gal was thinking about getting another one the one I have now is not aggressive but when comes to feeding time he is the men
 
Miles said:
I would watch them closely.. They will act more aggressive towards night time.. If you leave the lights off and can watch them, you might notice the dominant knife. Also, you might just hear some splashing coming from the tank. You will also wake up to find battle wounds on one or the other..

Perhaps this information was stated, regarding the fact that often people keep these MONSTER fish in undersized tanks? They should be in 180g+ tanks, minimum, but perhaps since people are trying to stuff them in 90gs, they fight? I have had friends who had a pair from 1" to 24" in a 240g tank, and they were 'buddies' because of the other tankmates they had..
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I agree with Miles, i saw a setup once ( eons ago when i was 8 years old ) with a neighbor.. he ( or she?) had a large tank and majority of the tanks inhabitants were clowns... i remember they had a cave or each.. they were all docile and didnt notice any fights at all.
 
i just saw it a couple days ago....my lfs have BUNCH of clowns..probably 8 clowns...each is around 14" in 180 tank...and i don't see any fighting sign at all...probably because they have a bunch so the agression is spread enuff...if you have only a couple....then it MIGHT be a problem...

dunno about the actual size when they start being agressive though..
 
I've always heard of clown knives getting aggressive with one another, but every time I see a display with a couple of them, they always seem to be getting along...no wounds, no nothing, and they're always side by side. I don't know the possibility of me just always seeing a male and female couple, but who knows? I use to have a clown knife and I only kept one because I keep hearing how they'll get aggressive and kill each other.
 
i have 3 clowns and they are still eggs, but they killed my plecos and my herps and my gars
 
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