
African Brown Knifefish
Xenomystus nigri
The African Brown Knifefish (Xenomystus nigri) is a tropical freshwater fish of the family Notopteridae. It lives on the bottom. It grows to 30 cm (standard length, tail fin excluded). The IUCN Red List rates it Least Concern. In the aquarium it is kept at 23–28 °C.
- Size
- 30 cmstandard length, tail fin excluded
- Temperature
- 23–28 °C
- pH
- 5.8–7.5
- Tank footprint
- 120 × 45 cm
In the aquarium
Temperature23–28 °C
pH5.8–7.5
Hardness1–20 °dGH
In the wild
- Water type
- Freshwater
- Climate zone
- Tropical
- Habitat
- On the bottom
- Aquarium trade
- Traded commercially
Conservation status
Classification
- OrderOsteoglossiformes
- FamilyNotopteridae
- GenusXenomystus
- SpeciesXenomystus nigri
Quick answers
- African Brown Knifefish size: how big does it get?
- It grows to 30 cm (standard length, tail fin excluded).
- African Brown Knifefish tank size: what is the minimum?
- A tank with a footprint of at least 120 × 45 cm.
- African Brown Knifefish water parameters: what does it need?
- Temperature 23–28 °C, pH 5.8–7.5, hardness 1–20 °dGH.
- African Brown Knifefish: is it endangered?
- The IUCN Red List rates it Least Concern.
Related species
Sources
The figures on this page are compiled from the references below.






