All fish / Notopteridae

Reticulated Knifefish

Papyrocranus afer

Also known as african featherfin knifefish, marbled knifefish, african knifefish, reticulate knifefish, papyrocranus, パピロクラヌス・アフェル, 非洲七星刀

A long, laterally compressed knifefish with a tiny dorsal fin and a long anal fin that merges with the tail, giving it a rippling style of swimming. Its brown body is covered in a fine dark netted or marbled pattern. Keepers value it as an unusual, nocturnal centrepiece for large African biotope or predator tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

50 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

800 litres

Keep as

Keep singly; adults are intolerant of their own kind

Diet

Carnivore: live and frozen foods such as earthworms, shrimp, prawns, mussel and fish pieces, plus sinking carnivore pellets

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

West and Central Africa: coastal river basins from Gambia to the Congo basin, including the Niger

Breeding

In the wild the male guards eggs laid in a nest among vegetation or in a hollow during the rainy season. Captive breeding is very rarely reported because of the fish's size and aggression towards its own species.

Good to know

Grows to around 50 to 80 cm and will eat any tankmate small enough to swallow, so plan for a very large tank. It is shy and needs caves or driftwood plus dim lighting, and can be confused with Asian clown knifefish (Chitala species).