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Reticulated Knifefish, photographed on a transparent background
Photo: George Albert Boulenger · Public domain

FreshwaterComing soonRare

Reticulated Knifefish

Papyrocranus afer

The Reticulated Knifefish (Papyrocranus afer) is a tropical freshwater fish of the family Notopteridae. It lives on the bottom. It grows to 80 cm (total length). The IUCN Red List rates it Least Concern. In the aquarium it is kept at 24–28 °C.

Size
80 cmtotal length
Temperature
24–28 °C
pH
6.5–7.5
Tank footprint
210 × 90 cm

In the aquarium

Temperature24–28 °C
pH6.5–7.5
Hardness5–15 °dGH
Drawn to scale in a 210 cm tank

In the wild

Water type
Freshwater
Climate zone
Tropical
Habitat
On the bottom
Aquarium trade
Traded commercially

Conservation status

Classification

  1. OrderOsteoglossiformes
  2. FamilyNotopteridae
  3. GenusPapyrocranus
  4. SpeciesPapyrocranus afer

Quick answers

Reticulated Knifefish size: how big does it get?
It grows to 80 cm (total length).
Reticulated Knifefish tank size: what is the minimum?
A tank with a footprint of at least 210 × 90 cm.
Reticulated Knifefish water parameters: what does it need?
Temperature 24–28 °C, pH 6.5–7.5, hardness 5–15 °dGH.
Reticulated Knifefish: is it endangered?
The IUCN Red List rates it Least Concern.

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Sources

The figures on this page are compiled from the references below.