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Clown Knifefish, photographed on a transparent background
Photo: Parkourprincess · CC BY-SA 4.0

FreshwaterComing soonUncommon

Clown Knifefish

Chitala ornata

The Clown Knifefish (Chitala ornata) is a tropical freshwater fish of the family Notopteridae. It grows to 100 cm (standard length, tail fin excluded). The IUCN Red List rates it Least Concern. In the aquarium it is kept at 20–28 °C.

Size
100 cmstandard length, tail fin excluded
Temperature
20–28 °C
pH
6.0–8.0
Climate zone
Tropical

In the aquarium

Temperature20–28 °C
pH6.0–8.0
Hardness2–15 °dGH

In the wild

Water type
Freshwater
Climate zone
Tropical
Aquarium trade
Traded commercially

Conservation status

Classification

  1. OrderOsteoglossiformes
  2. FamilyNotopteridae
  3. GenusChitala
  4. SpeciesChitala ornata

Quick answers

Clown Knifefish size: how big does it get?
It grows to 100 cm (standard length, tail fin excluded).
Clown Knifefish water parameters: what does it need?
Temperature 20–28 °C, pH 6.0–8.0, hardness 2–15 °dGH.
Clown 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.