Can Some one ID my fish please

[Luna]

Hiya everyone

I was sold today a Black Knife Fish and was told it was a fairly peacefull fish and would reach a max size of 30cm.

After looking it up on the net im not so sure - the only black knife fish i found was the african one which stated it does not have a dorsal fin.... and mine definatly does.It also doesnt have any marking on it like a clown knife fish - and i really hope its not one of these,growing to two foot .


I wasnt sure how to add a picture so ive added it as my profile photo.I would be very gratefull if anyone could take a look and ID the knife fish.

Thanks a lot

 

[jerryjr569]

Well its a knife fish


i think a clown knife fish

i have one its looks like urs

they are hard to feed

they won't eat any type of dry food

feeder fish ,brine shimp live or frozen,blood worms,and other live/frozen foods

thats want i found on the intenet

hide all the time
make sure have hiding spot

 

[Luna]

Mine has already eaten flake food and seems to really love algae wafers

I thought it looked like a clown but it has no markings at all?

Also he is not timid at all - he has a hiding spot but seems to want to be out and about.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Is he not just a knife fish? Like a clown but without the markings?

 

[jerryjr569]

ya not clown i just looked at mine mine has marks circle like spots

probbly a knife fish
Sorry just got mine a week ago

mine won't eat flake food thou

how big tank

and what fish are in the tank
they will get big

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Yeah, they can get to a couple of foot andhave amazing mouths that open like a trap door! Ack!

I got a clown knife when I first got into tropicl fish and I had to take him back as he wouldn't eat. Just as well really, as I later learned the potential size of Ernest.

 

[Carolinesugar]

Hiya, ive just had a quick look at the fish in your profile, but asfar as i can see, he looks more like a deformed moonlight gourami than a knief fish, knief fish are usually black, with white on their tails, which is nothin like your fish.

In my opinion, the fish youve got looks more like a cross between a moonlight gourami, and a rainbow fish (facial features) just he doesnt have any feelers, otherwise id have sed he was deffinately a moonlight gourami.

Have you tried looking through some fish books trying to ID him ?

Gud luck

 

[appleblossom]

ive found it

you are the proud owner of an asian knife fish!

Family: NOTOPTERIDAE
Species: Notopterus notopterus
Common Name: Asian Knifefish
Size: up to 14 inches.
Habitat: Southeast Asia
Diet: Carnivorous, worms, fish. inverts and such.
Behavior: peaceful, with large fish, nocturnal in nature.
Water: pH 6,0 to 6.5, dH to 8o, temperature of 75 to 80f
Care: medium, needs a large tank
Communities: good, with large fish only
Suitability: not for the novice

 

[BlueIce]

def asian-
Asian Knifefish
Notopterus notopterus
SYN: Gymnotus notopterus
PD: This elongated, laterally compressed fish has an arched back The body coloring is brown-violet to brown and the fins are lighter. The mouth is large, while the dorsal fin is small.
SIZE: To 14" (35 cm)
SS: African Knifefish ( Xenomystus nigri )
HAB: Widespread throughout Southeast Asia; Burma, India, Java, Malaysia, Sumatra, Thailand
S: bottom, middle
TANK: A tank measuring 40" (101 cm) or 45-55 gallons (170-210 L) is sufficient. Follow suggestions under C. ornata .
WATER: pH 5.5-7 (6.5), 2-12 dH (6), 75-82 F (24-28 C)
SB: The Asian Knifefish may be best kept in a species tank, although it can be combined with other medium to large fish. The Asian Knifefish is aggressive towards its own species. This nocturnal species is territorial.
SC: B. schwanenfeldi , Asian Catfish, Loricarids, Pimelodids, Giant Gourami, Loaches, and peaceful cichlids
FOOD: Live; fish, Tubifex , snails, crustaceans, earthworms; tablets
SEX: Unknown
B: Spawning takes place at night, with 150-200 eggs being dropped on the bottom and rocks. The male guards them, chasing off other fish and fanning the eggs. The eggs hatch after 2 weeks. Start feeding with Artemia .
BP: 9. Breeding is fairly unusual
R: This species is very similar to Xenomystus nigri . These two species can be distinguished by X. nigri 's lack of a dorsal fin.
DC: 6. This aggressive species requires well maintained water and a diet including live foods.

 

[Carolinesugar]

ive found it

you are the proud owner of an asian knife fish!

Family: NOTOPTERIDAE
Species: Notopterus notopterus
Common Name: Asian Knifefish
Size: up to 14 inches.
Habitat: Southeast Asia
Diet: Carnivorous, worms, fish. inverts and such.
Behavior: peaceful, with large fish, nocturnal in nature.
Water: pH 6,0 to 6.5, dH to 8o, temperature of 75 to 80f
Care: medium, needs a large tank
Communities: good, with large fish only
Suitability: not for the novice

Hiya appleblossom, not sure what went wrong there, but i cant see the picture u attached of it ? mayb you need to add it into fish pictures, then a link on this post ?

 

[CFC]

Just to confirm it is definately a Asian knife fish; Notopterus notopterus. I was going to post last night but it was late and i lost my connection so left it till the morning, thankgod some people are still on the ball, deformed gourami!!

 

[Ben]

that wouldve been a cool hybrid gourami x knife fish

yeh definitly asian, theres a display tank at one of my lfs with them, theyre awsome

 

[Luna]

Thankyou for all your help
I am so glad he is an asian knife fish and not a clown,I was getting pretty worried for a while!

The shop sold him as growing to a max 30cm so 35cm is not so bad.If he was a two footer he would definatly have to go back!!!

He is currently in a 5ft 65 uk gallon tank.

He goes absolutley mad over algae wafers - picks the whole thing up and chews it lol,he also eats any other food put in too, so no problems feeding him.

Thanks once again