Papyrocranus afer (reticulated african knifefish) question...

[CrimsonFog]

I'm thinking of obtaining an 18" Papyrocranus afer for my 300g. The tank does have a bunch of fancy plecos in it, with the smallest being around 2.5-3". I've never kept this fish before. Can anyone with first-hand experience with these comment on if the knifefish would eventually see the plecos as food? Or would they ignore them? There will be no other tankmates.

 

[kno4te]

K krichardson

 

[thefredpit]

I have a 10" Afer and his name is Jacka$$ for a good reason he goes after most fish I had to remove my double trunk elephant nose that were 5" because he killed one and ripped half the tail of the other 2. I never saw him go after any of the plecos but most were over 5" but there is currently a 3.5" L114 but I wouldn't trust an 18" afer with a pleco that small

 

[krichardson]

Mine is pretty peaceful and doesn't really bother anything else.Thst may or may not be due to the fact that I keep it well fed.

 

[justarn]

Same but mine is only 12", he chases some smaller 5-7 inch cichlids about at times,no damage tho.
Not sure about an 18"er, I would imagine it could be quite territorial, what's it living with in its current tank?
I would love to see some pictures of a confirmed 18" afer, please share

 

[Audaxcity]

Hot dang, 18 inch retic? Post pics please.

Yeah its probably going to see the smaller plecos as food at that size, as would any fish that big. I almost guarantee its going to TRY to eat a pleco, though I doubt it can get through the armored skin.

 

[krichardson]

Hot dang, 18 inch retic? Post pics please.

Yeah its probably going to see the smaller plecos as food at that size, as would any fish that big. I almost guarantee its going to TRY to eat a pleco, though I doubt it can get through the armored skin.

Mine might be eighteen inches but I'm sure that it's at least fifteen inches.I'll try and get an at length photo of it later.

 

[Audaxcity]

I thought they were BGK size. I just found out(wikipedia search) they get up to 30 bloody inches.

 

[krichardson]

Yeah,well over two feet!

 

[krichardson]

Hot dang, 18 inch retic? Post pics please.

Well here is mine.I taped the tape measurer to the tank after chasing him around with my net.
....not the most cooperative fish when I want to take some photos.It is very close to the glass in those shots and not far back lol.