African Marbled Knife Fish

Yoda1

Candiru
MFK Member
Dec 2, 2010
420
43
46
UK
Hi All,

My lfs has this fantastic looking African Marbled Knife Fish.
Lots of weekend staff around but no one who seemed to know much about it.

How big does it get?
Water requirements?
Compatability?

Thanks
Yoda
 

benzjamin13

Administrator
Staff member
Administrator
MFK Member
Sep 12, 2005
31,542
547
201
Los Angeles, CA
Sounds like a Papycronus Afer. They are known as one of the most aggressive Knife species. They can reach up to 2' in length and are very secretive. It's said that they are aggressive towards their own kind, but I haven't experienced one myself and I believe there a a couple of members who have had a pair or group of these together.
 

Racersk

Piranha
MFK Member
Apr 22, 2010
1,143
35
81
Covington
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?440411-My-125G-anchient-tank-Poly-s-amp-Knife...etc...

Take a look at my most recent video. I have one that's about 15" in a 125g. Only real tankmates are bichir's as this knife won't take any other tank mates! I just moved my silver dollars out because of the bite marks in the fins. I tried to my other P. Afer into this guys tank. 24hours and 3 weeks of healing- won't try that again. It's fine when young, but not after about 6-7" long. Just too agro!

And yes- it is a fish ninja! Sneaks up on any thing it thinks is prey- sizes it up- lets the prey think its safe- then *scales everywhere*!
 

King-eL

Polypterus
MFK Member
Nov 28, 2008
7,178
19
92
Philippines and Canada
If introduce all together and they will form a gang. But if introduce one at a time, the newly introduce one will get beat up. If it manage to survive, they leave it alone till they let it join the gang. They hates other featherbacks unless, they get use to it. I just got 3 of them at 10" as I sold all my old one last year. They seems to slow down at 14".
 

Racersk

Piranha
MFK Member
Apr 22, 2010
1,143
35
81
Covington
+1 ^

My big knife was the direct cause of a cichlid death (red green Texas) recently-within 30 minutes of adding the texas it was chased and harrassed so ferociously it died from shock ... :WHOA:

My 11" tiger oscar keeps my little knife in his place...but this is only temporary... it is only ~9" but starting to gain some girth (finally)...



These knifes are pure ninja fish! I've even seen my big guy sneak food from *out of* my bowfins mouth once!
Crazy mad bowfin/but way smater and quicker P. Afer!
 
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