African knifefish
Xenomystus nigri
- Tank length
- 120 cmabout 4 ft (47 in)
- Start with
- 1
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C72–82 °F
- pH
- 6–8
- Adult size
- 20 cm8 in
- Lifespan
- 10–15 yrs
Nocturnal and shy but eats fish small enough to swallow; give tubes or caves and dim lighting.Nocturnal and shy but eats fish small enough to swallow; give tubes or caves and dim lighting.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Agassiz's cory
African knifefish may eat Agassiz's coryAfrican knifefish may eat Agassiz's cory
Amano shrimpAfrican knifefish may eat Amano shrimpAfrican knifefish may eat Amano shrimp
- American flagfish
African knifefish may eat American flagfishAfrican knifefish may eat American flagfish
Assassin snailAfrican knifefish may eat Assassin snailAfrican knifefish may eat Assassin snail
- Bandit cory
African knifefish may eat Bandit coryAfrican knifefish may eat Bandit cory
Black neon tetraAfrican knifefish may eat Black neon tetraAfrican knifefish may eat Black neon tetra
- Black phantom tetra
African knifefish may eat Black phantom tetraAfrican knifefish may eat Black phantom tetra
- Black ruby barb
African knifefish may eat Black ruby barbAfrican knifefish may eat Black ruby barb
- Blackline rasbora
African knifefish may eat Blackline rasboraAfrican knifefish may eat Blackline rasbora
- Bleeding heart tetra
African knifefish may eat Bleeding heart tetraAfrican knifefish may eat Bleeding heart tetra
- Blind cave tetra
African knifefish may eat Blind cave tetraAfrican knifefish may eat Blind cave tetra
- Bloodfin tetra
African knifefish may eat Bloodfin tetraAfrican knifefish may eat Bloodfin tetra
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 22–28 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 6–8 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 5–19 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Origin | West and Central African river basins | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | bottom | 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 | 24 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum tank length | 120 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |