Clown knifefish
Chitala chitala
- Tank length
- 300 cmabout 10 ft (118 in)
- Start with
- 1
- Temperature
- 23–33 °C73–91 °F
- pH
- 5.5–7.8
- Adult size
- 60 cm24 in
- Lifespan
- 10–15 yrs
Grows huge and eats any fish it can swallow; most trade 'clown knives' are C. ornata, and both need giant tanks.Grows huge and eats any fish it can swallow; most trade 'clown knives' are C. ornata, and both need giant tanks.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Acei cichlid
Clown knifefish may eat Acei cichlidClown knifefish may eat Acei cichlid
- African butterfly cichlid
Clown knifefish may eat African butterfly cichlidClown knifefish may eat African butterfly cichlid
- African clawed frog
Clown knifefish may eat African clawed frogClown knifefish may eat African clawed frog
- Agassiz's cory
Clown knifefish may eat Agassiz's coryClown knifefish may eat Agassiz's cory
- Ajamaru rainbowfish
Clown knifefish may eat Ajamaru rainbowfishClown knifefish may eat Ajamaru rainbowfish
Amano shrimpClown knifefish may eat Amano shrimpClown knifefish may eat Amano shrimp
- American flagfish
Clown knifefish may eat American flagfishClown knifefish may eat American flagfish
- Angfa rainbowfish
Clown knifefish may eat Angfa rainbowfishClown knifefish may eat Angfa rainbowfish
- Arfak rainbowfish
Clown knifefish may eat Arfak rainbowfishClown knifefish may eat Arfak rainbowfish
Assassin snailClown knifefish may eat Assassin snailClown knifefish may eat Assassin snail
- Banded gourami
Clown knifefish may eat Banded gouramiClown knifefish may eat Banded gourami
- Bandit cory
Clown knifefish may eat Bandit coryClown knifefish may eat Bandit cory
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 23–33 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.5–7.8 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 1–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
| Origin | Rivers of India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | advanced | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | middle | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | predatory | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | carnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 10–15 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 36 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum tank length | 300 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |