All fish / Notopteridae

Clown Knifefish

Chitala ornata

Also known as clown knife fish, clown featherback, spotted knifefish, clown knife, chitala knifefish, albino clown knife, notopterus chitala, ปลากราย, belida, ナイフフィッシュ, クラウンナイフフィッシュ, ikan belida

A deep-bellied, laterally compressed fish with a long anal fin that merges with the tail, a tiny dorsal fin and a row of black, pale-ringed spots along the rear flanks. It glides forwards and backwards by rippling the anal fin, which makes it a striking centrepiece for large tanks. It is mostly active at dusk and night.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

60 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

1000 litres

Keep as

Singly, or a group of 5 or more in a very large tank

Diet

Carnivore: fish fillet, prawns, earthworms, insects and carnivore pellets

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Mekong and Chao Phraya basins: Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam

Breeding

Pairs lay eggs on hard surfaces such as wood or rock, and the male guards them and the fry. Spawning in home aquariums is rare because of the fish's size, and most trade stock is farmed in Southeast Asian ponds.

Good to know

Juveniles are sold at a few centimetres but can grow to 60 cm or more and need a very large tank; they will eat any fish small enough to swallow. Adults can be quarrelsome with their own kind, so give plenty of cover and space.