Clown Knife Fish

[ChilliPepper]

Has anyone kept one with Oscars, Severums, JD's, Firemouths, Nics, Geos, Polypterus and BN plecs?

To go in a 6x2x2.

 

[Davo86]

Provided individuals aren't overly aggressive (and large enough to not get eaten, the size of the bn would worry me) they should be ok together,

However I'd say even 6x2x2 isn't suitable long long term, but should be fine for a few years

 

[ChilliPepper]

Bristly should be fine, he's about 4" and hard as nails.

Would a BGK be a better choice? Really not sure.

The 6ft won't be my final upgrade, but don't see me upgrading again for a good few years. We'd need to have our own house and then I'd like to get a 10ft tank.

 

[simonas]

Having a fair bit of experience keeping these fish I wouldn;t see a problem at all

I;m made up to see another clown knife keeper as they have always been one of my favourite fish and I will keep another one day

I;ve never had a problem with agression from one of these and found them to be quite gentle. There mouths are huge but I;ve kept clown loach oscars all kindswith themwithout problem

Theres nothing more impressive than a big clown knife patrolling the tank

 

[ChilliPepper]

Thanks simonas

I'm not sure what size I could get, they have some at a LFS and not sure if they are for sale or whether they'd get one in for me. Gonna find out at the weekend.

Would a smallish one be OK in my current 3x3x2.5 for 6 weeks until my 6ft arrives do you think? Also do they mainly stick to the upper levels or do they swim all over?

 

[simonas]

I would have thought if not too big would be fine in there as long as an upgrades coming

I;ve had a couple one was constantly swimming around and was magnificent and another that was very shy. but if I ever went in after lights out it was gliding all over the tank. when they are active they swim at all levels

 

[england]

I thought clown knifes got to 36inches, i remember seeing a big one at a lfs once, maybe i got the wrong identification.
Black ghosts usually grow smaller in captivity apparently, however
This tank was about 10ft, only had these in, they were um big

 

[simonas]

I;ve seen huge ones on the internet but I believe that typically in home aquaria they get around 24 inch

 

[ChilliPepper]

Nelly they aren't Clown Knives in that pic. This is the fish I meant: http/www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http/aqualandpetsplus.com/Knife,19.jpg&imgrefurl=http/aqualandpetsplus.com/Knife,%2520Clown.htm&h=286&w=419&sz=15&tbnid=nizaxHFBJTwRlM:&tbnh=85&tbnw=125&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dclown%2Bknife%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=clown+knife&usg=__gKxjprlesrH7GMrSTuYr8uCxyLo=&sa=X&ei=ihymTd2qEceBhQeu_O3cCQ&ved=0CC4Q9QEwAg

I think they get to 18-24" in home aquaria, can get to 3ft in their native Asia when they are then caught and eaten

 

[gasmask]

I had a good sized one that I tried to house with Bichirs, tried Snakeheads, even tried Arowana.
It didn't work with any of them.
Mine was just a seriously nasty fish.

They can be real docile or real aggressively territorial, just depends on the fish.
I ended up selling mine on, as it was just pure EVIL!

Here is my old one: (was 50cm when we parted ways)

 

[england]

Nelly they aren't Clown Knives in that pic. This is the fish I meant: http/www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http/aqualandpetsplus.com/Knife,19.jpg&imgrefurl=http/aqualandpetsplus.com/Knife,%2520Clown.htm&h=286&w=419&sz=15&tbnid=nizaxHFBJTwRlM:&tbnh=85&tbnw=125&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dclown%2Bknife%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=clown+knife&usg=__gKxjprlesrH7GMrSTuYr8uCxyLo=&sa=X&ei=ihymTd2qEceBhQeu_O3cCQ&ved=0CC4Q9QEwAg

I think they get to 18-24" in home aquaria, can get to 3ft in their native Asia when they are then caught and eaten

Eye i know, hehe i put that picture as the black ghosts, just showing even people getting these thinking they stay small, they dont stay small, hehe, but i beleive there smaller than the clown

 

[ChilliPepper]

Stunning Clown, gasmask, shame it was a s£d! I understand it's pot luck, but hey that's the same with any fish really

I may get a Ghostie instead, if I see one I fancy at a decent size. Always liked them too.

 

[simonas]

If you have the tank size Chili I;d highly recomend the clown over the BGK its my favourite knife and probably favourite fish. definately one I will be setting up for again in the future. I stand by when I say one of the best looking fish when cutting a swathe through the aquarium swimming