Breeding the clown knifefish
Unreported in captivity (rarely if ever at home). In the wild it spawns in spring and summer (March-July) on submerged wood or other hard surfaces, and the male guards and fans the eggs and protects the fry.
Step by step
Buy a group of 4-6 juveniles and grow them out together. Sexing is very hard, so a group gives the best chance of a pair.
Needs a very large tank (1000+ L) with caves, floating plants and flat spawning surfaces. Fish are nocturnal and need hiding places.
Large tanks, rain-like conditions and heavy feeding are thought to help, but it is rarely done at home.
Females reportedly lay thousands of eggs on the bottom or on a piece of wood; the male fans and guards them.
Fry take baby brine shrimp and small worms. Grow very fast and become cannibals, so sort by size often.
- Keeping them in a tank that is too small
- Mixing them with small fish that get eaten
- Not sorting fry by size
Male or female
- Male: Not visible
- Female: Not visible
- Cannot be sexed by sight
Can I breed it in my tank?
- This species is rarely bred in home tanks.
- Hard: for experienced breeders.