CichlidFish.com - Fish That Think.

i have a 15 gallon tank with all the fixings. there is a 4 inch jack dempsey that was the only fish. He has been digging in the gravel and has set up pretty well. He hasnt been that aggressive so i introduced a 5 inch clown knife fish ( i like to watch them eat guppies). Well the jack is starting to nibble on the knife as soon at it was in the tank. he is being pretty bad and i know it is in its nature. Will the knife be ok? What should i do. i have another tank with cichlids but it is about to capicity. can the knife be happy in my other tank? Need help thanks in advance.

Nipping is alright, attacks and constant chasing around the tank is another thing. Just eep an eye on them to make sure that he doesnt kill the CK. A tank with a large number of fish also might be better is serious attacks happen, cause there are more than one fish to concentrate on in the "community tank" Might still get harrassed but not as bad.
Chuck

The clown knivefish is a powerful fish and it grows to a really large size. I have own one in a 30 long aquarium and it grows to 16 inches and were still growing, but in a aquarium cleaning i put it in a large recipient and it jumps and hurt so much. It can't survive the damage it suffers from the collision with the floor and dies. But it never get sick. They are usually calm but they eat anything that can go in their mouths and are agressive if provoqued. If they grow much and the jack mistreated it the Dempsey will have a nightmare with it. Also with the size they can attain they will kill easily a Jack Dempsey. They are beatiful fishes and jump a lot. A good cover is a must.

It isnt gonna end at nipping in a 15 gal tank. You need a bigger tank for that clown knife. They can and will reach 2 ft. in length. I wouldn't keep one in a tank smaller than 75 gal. A lot of people reccomend 125. And that JD is an aggresive fish and shouldn't be kept in a 15gal w/ any other fish. It is too small for a territorial fish such as the JD. You will need a bigger tank if you plan on keeping these fish.

I know this is probably not what you wanted to hear but i was tryin to save you from problems in the future.

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Clint
CDevoe1111@aol.com

toatly agreable with the advice.just like arrowanas when small they are very volnarable.after about five" they become a perfectly desiend prediters.i can hounestly say that they can even be dagours.i own a 125 and my knife was 19" long and well on his way of growing.knives in the wild get a meter and pluss.right now your jd is a formatle size and will intimadate for a while,but evetualy even in a 15 he will grow large and he will get even.

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