Tank setup
A minimum 1000L aquarium suits Clown Knifefish. Match décor to natural behaviour — plants, rockwork, or open swimming room as needed.
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Monster Fish
Other Monster Fish
Uncommon
Chitala ornata
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What to know before you buy.
The Clown Knifefish is a distinctive and graceful predator from Southeast Asia, named for the large, eye-like spots (ocelli) that adorn its silvery, blade-shaped body. It swims using an undulating ribbon fin along its belly, giving it an almost otherworldly appearance. A nocturnal hunter, it captures prey with quick strikes and can consume surprisingly large food items relative to its body size. It is one of the most popular and recognisable monster fish in the hobby.
Key traits
Select a tank to see how this species fits.
Everything you need to keep Clown Knifefish healthy in a South African setup.
A minimum 1000L aquarium suits Clown Knifefish. Match décor to natural behaviour — plants, rockwork, or open swimming room as needed.
Keep pH 6–7.5 and 24–28°C. Stable parameters matter more than chasing perfect numbers — acclimate new arrivals slowly.
Clown Knifefish is carnivore. Feed a varied diet appropriate for monster fish — quality flakes, pellets, or frozen foods sized to the mouth.
Clown Knifefish is generally semi-aggressive. Observe during feeding and at lights-out for true temperament.
Pair with similarly sized semi-aggressive tankmates in monster fish. Avoid fin-nippers or species that outgrow this fish.
Breeding notes for Clown Knifefish vary by line and water chemistry — ask your local shop about proven pairs in SA.
From hobbyists across SA.
Price trends and buyer demand — data only FishHub tracks.
SA price range this month: R215–2500 · Average: R669
This data is unique to FishHub
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Species that typically work alongside Clown Knifefish in a similar setup.
Fire Eel
Mastacembelus erythrotaenia
Black Ghost Knifefish
Apteronotus albifrons
Hujeta Gar
Ctenolucius hujeta
Giant Gourami
Osphronemus goramy
Fahaka Pufferfish
Tetraodon lineatus
Bullseye Snakehead
Channa marulius
Giant Snakehead
Channa marulius
Alligator Gar
Atractosteus spatula