Unknown Knife Fish

[invader]

I was at my LFS today and in one of their larger tanks, they had a knife fish that I could not identify. It resembled a ghost knife, being black, but it had a long, horizontal white stripe starting from it's tail and ending halfway along the fish. It's anal fin was transparent, unlike the BGK. It was about a foot long and was labeled "Long Stripe Knife Fish." If anyone has ideas, please let me know, because it was a truly beautiful fish. My only regret is that I didn't take a picture of it.

 

[nurglespuss]

Not an expert on knife fish, but on a quick search this came up...

http/www.aquariumfish.net/catalog_pages/...ported_fish.htm

found here under 6122 (describes BGK) but seemed to fit your description...

 

[invader]

It's not a BGK, that's why I am asking for help. It looks like one, but has subtle differences, as stated above. Thanks for looking, though!

 

[invader]

I've been looking on Fishbase for a long time now and I have not found anything that looks exactly like the species I saw. It definitely is in the same family of the ghost knife, but is slightly different and may get larger...? Anyway, I'll go check it out again today, if I get a chance and maybe I'll be a ble to get a picture. I was so interested in this fish, because, for it's size and rarity, it was a bargain!

 

[§tudz]

I'm gonna say either:

Asian Knifefish (Notopterus notopterus):

OR

African Knifefish (Xenomystus nigri):

 

[invader]

No, not quite. The body is more like a BGK, but the markings are different. It definitely looks like an amazonian species.

Ok, in comparison:

1. Transparent anal fin
2. Does not have white blotches on tail, but has a white line going horizontally down the side of the fish
3. Might have more of an upturned mouth

Like I said, I'll go look again today, because I'd love to have it in my 125gl I'm getting next week.

 

[§tudz]

No, not quite. The body is more like a BGK, but the markings are different. It definitely looks like an amazonian species.

Ok, in comparison:

1. Transparent anal fin
2. Does not have white blotches on tail, but has a white line going horizontally down the side of the fish
3. Transparent anal fin, not black
4. Might have more of an upturned mouth

Like I said, I'll go look again today, because I'd love to have it in my 125gl I'm getting next week.

the only other knifefishes I'm aware of is the Glass/Green Knifefish, Clown and Royal, so I'm totalling stumped...
if you can get a pic, even one using your mobile phone (if you have one) would help

 

[The-Wolf]

is the main fin on top or on the bottom of the fish?

 

[Richie Hell]

Could it not be a different species of Black Ghost Knifefish?

I saw this a couple of days ago on PFK website:

Scientists have discovered a new species of Black ghost knifefish in the Rio Tocatins basin in Brazil.

The new knifefish was discovered at Rosariano in the mouth of the Rio Maranhao in Goias State and has just been named Apteronotus camposdapazi in a paper in the latest issue of the journal Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters.

The paper by Carlos David de Santa and Pablo Lehmann says that Apteronotus camposdapazi is a member of the Apternotus albifrons species complex, a group characterised by the presence of two light bands on the caudal peduncle.

Previous studies of Apteronotus albifrons by de Santana have shown that what was considered a single species with a widespread geographic range is actually a complex of species.

Spot the difference
Apteronotus camposdapazi can be distinguished from Apteronotus albifrons and other members of the A. albifrons species complex by the presence of prominent white or yellow bands on the chin, the dorsal surface of the head and the middle of the back.

There is also a characteristic light-brown midlateral band on the body.

Like others in the genus, males and females are sexually dimorphic. Female camposdapazi normally have a slightly longer snout length and larger gape than either albifrons or caudimaculosus.

Several members of the complex are believed to have been sold in the aquarium trade and a number of fishkeepers have reported successful spawnings.

According to de Santana and Lehmann, A. albifrons is typically imported for the aquarium trade from Brazil and Venezuela, while the closely related A. caudimaculosus is imported from the Pantanal wetlands in the south of Brazil.

The new species is named after Ricardo Campos da Paz in honour of his work on the fishes of the Gymnotiformes Order.

"Several members of the complex are believed to have been sold in the aquarium trade" - maybe it's something close related to A. Albifrons?

 

[Feral123]

dude, that would be awesome if it was the new species. then you would have one amazing fish.

 

[invader]

Well, I went back today, and I was wrong about the common name. It was actually called a Gold Line Knife, but that really doesn't get us any closer to an I.D. I took pictures (see below), although they are not the best, it shows the basics of the fish.

Wolf, the fish's fin is on the bottom.

I couldn't resist. I bought him and the store is holding him until I get the 125 all up and running! All this talk about a new species is making me excited!

 

[three-fingers]

I'm not going to be any help with an ID here, but I just thought I'd take the chance to say that is one stunning fish and congrats on the purchase . How much did it cost you?

 

[ArauraDiscus]

I want this knife fish

 

[Puffdaddy]

Sorry this not a new species. Here is a scientific name Sternopygus macrurus (Bloch&Schneider 1801)
Here is a link or you can look it up yourself. Sternopygus macrurus
A very nice fish none the less and hard to find. How much did you pay if you don't mind me asking?

 

[invader]

I only paid $30 for it. The place I got it from definitely did not know what it was, which helps me!

Oh no, it gets enormous! 141cm! What the heck am I going to do with it?! Do you think that is even a right figure? 141cm = Almost 5ft long... it doesn't sound right. Oh well, great fish, no matter what. Thank you all for helping with the ID!