Clown Featherback

Chitala ornata, the Clown Knifefish, is one of the most distinctive large freshwater fish from South and Southeast Asia. Its strongly laterally compressed, elongated silver body is adorned along the lower portion with a row of large, bold ocelli — white spots ringed in black — that become more numerous and prominent with age. The species is found in large rivers and floodplain lakes in India, Thailand, Cambodia, and across mainland Southeast Asia, where it is a commercially important food fish.

In the aquarium the Clown Knifefish is popular for its spectacular appearance and the fact that juveniles can be purchased at a manageable size. However, the species grows rapidly to over a metre and requires an aquarium of 1000 litres or more for healthy adults. It is a nocturnal predator that uses the wave-like motion of its long anal fin for propulsion, and it is an obligate air-breather.

Breeding in home aquaria is not practical for most keepers. In the wild it spawns on submerged objects with both parents guarding the egg mass.

Water: 24–30 °C, pH 6.0–7.5, soft to moderately hard; excellent filtration essential at adult size. Tank: 1000 L minimum for adults; caves and open swim space; secure lid. Feeding: Carnivore; fish fillet, whole shrimp, earthworms, large pellets; night feeder. Breeding: Not practical in home aquaria; substrate-spawner with biparental guarding in wild. Compatibility: With only very large, robust fish; will consume any fish small enough to swallow.