can a clown knife live with cichlids the same size?

Answer 1

They cannot be kept with smaller fish of any kind, as anything small enough to fit in their mouth will be considered as food and they will often take a snap at larger fish, just on the off chance they may get a meal out of it.

Clown Knifes tolerate larger than them tankmates quite well, often ignoring attempts by territorial cichlids to chase them off. This can sometimes lead to problems with injuries being inflicted, although the clown will usually retreat to its hiding place before any major conflict occurs. Dither fish, such a giant danios may be okay to help keep the fish from feeling too shy, but eventually even the danios will be eaten. A good tank mate choice would be Silver dollars, or pacu, but housed in a tank no less than 100 gallons. Any fish that is smaller than they are and they will become dinner. Snails will be dinner as well or any other catfish. A very large pleco could be okay, but even then water changes are still important due to the fact that plecos do not really eat all waste.

I have had a Clown Knife Fish for nearly two years now, and have seen it grow from 9" to a healthy 13. For all their poor eyesight, mine does see well enough when the tank lights are low to recognise me and has developed quite a personality over time. He (I have no idea if it’s a male or a female, but I've always considered him to be male) is very responsive when you approach the tank at night, particularly when he thinks he's going to be fed. These fish are definitely not for beginners as they require a large commitment of time, money and space to keep happy and healthy, but they are well worth the effort, even if only for the "What on earth is that!?!?!" comments from people who see him for the first time. Clowns are truly amazing fish, with definite personalities and a lot of character, and a face only a mother could love!

Answer 2

Short story - maybe. It would depend a lot on which cichlids you have. Most cichlids are not peaceful by any means, although these are some exceptions. If your cichlids are a pair and they attempt to spawn, they could be a terror to any other fish in the tank, so plenty of hiding places (caves, plants, driftwood) would be necessary. Clown knives may try to make a meal of any fish smaller than they are.

To see what cichlids could possibly mix with a clown knife, use this reference, community type #9: http://www.elmersaquarium.com/h701elmers_freshwater_handbook.htm

Answer 3

Yes Yes Yes. I'm a clown with a circus and my knife is married to a cichilds that is even bigger then mine. They have two Ginsu's that I am very proud off.