Clown knifefish

The clown knifefish is a large predatory fish in the family Notopteridae, native to freshwaters of Southeast Asia. It has a distinctive knife-shaped, laterally compressed body with a long undulating anal fin, silvery-gray coloration, and a row of dark, white-ringed spots along the flanks that increase with age. It is a nocturnal ambush predator that is generally not aggressive toward fish too large to swallow but will readily eat smaller tank mates. It can breathe air and often hovers quietly among cover by day. It grows very large and requires a huge aquarium with subdued lighting, sturdy hiding places, and only sizable companions. It is a carnivore that takes meaty foods and, once settled, prepared sinking foods. Because of its eventual size and predatory habits, and its status as an invasive species where released, it is strictly a fish for experienced keepers with the space to house it.