Clown featherback | |
---|---|
Sub-adult specimen | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Osteoglossiformes |
Family: | Notopteridae |
Genus: | Chitala |
Species: | C. ornata |
Binomial name | |
Chitala ornata J. E. Gray, 1831 | |
The clown featherback (Chitala ornata), also known as the clown knifefish and spotted knifefish, is a nocturnal species of tropical fish with a long, knife-like body. This knifefish is native to freshwater habitats in Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Laos, Macau, Thailand, and Vietnam, [2] but it has also been introduced to regions outside its native range. [1] It is one of the world's most invasive species.
It is often seen in aquaculture and the aquarium trade, where it is frequently confused with Chitala chitala ; the latter species is very rare in the aquarium trade. [3] [4] The clown featherback reaches 1 m (3.3 ft) in length, [2] outgrowing all but the largest aquaria, yet it is popular. [3]
This species is native to Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Laos, Macau, Thailand, and Vietnam, where it is found in the Mekong, Chao Phraya, and Meklong River basins. [2] It has also been introduced to regions outside its native range, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. [1] [3] It has either spread to or was introduced to Broward County, Florida. [5]
The clown knifefish is very distinct, with normally silvery gray with a long, knife-like body (laterally compressed) and a long anal fin that gives it its common name. Mature fish normally have five to 10 (or even more) black spots ringed with white that usually decrease in size as the fish grows. These ocellated spots and the lack of faint stripes on the back separate it from Chitala chitala ; a species with which it frequently has been confused. [3] [6] Albinos and leucistic specimens are seen with some frequency in the aquarium trade. [3]
Juveniles lack the spots, but are overall striped. Their long anal fins are used to make graceful forward and backward movements.
The clown knifefish grows to a fairly large size, up to 1 m (3.3 ft) and 5 kg (11 lb) in the wild. [2] It has two nasal tentacles above its large, toothed mouth. In the center of the body is a flag-like dorsal fin and has no ventral fins.
They are nocturnal and usually cruise during the twilight hours. They normally hunt live prey and try any fish that fits into their mouths. Young clown knifefish usually school near water logs and plants for security, whereas more mature specimens usually become territorial and eventually become loners. These fish can also breathe air to survive in stagnant waters and little oxygen. The clown knifefish prefers water around neutral pH and temperatures ranging from 75 to 85 °F (24 to 29 °C). These fish usually are found in lakes, swamps, and river backwaters.
Clown knifefish are sold as exotic fish in pet stores, but they grow much too large for the average home aquarium. These fish have periods of retreat, so aquaria that have caves, plants, or other hiding places are preferred. They are jumpers, so the lid should be kept tightly closed. Dim lighting may help lessen jumping. For the first few days, clown knifefish are shy and prone to hiding. As they grow larger, they tend to be quite the opposite.
Clown knifefish are hearty eaters, and will take live foods such as feeder fish, ghost shrimp, and blackworms. With time, they can be adapted to foods such as beefheart and will sometimes learn to accept commercial food pellets. They are mostly nocturnal, thus prefer feeding when the lights are off.
The clown featherback is commonly seen in the cuisine of Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries. In Thailand, when deep-fried as pla krai thot krathiam, it is served with a spicy dipping sauce on the side made by mashing up coriander roots, bird's eye chillies, and garlic, and mixing this with fish sauce, lime juice, and sugar. The clown featherback is also the main fish used in the production of fish balls.
The tinfoil barb is a tropical Southeast Asian freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae. This species was originally described as Barbus schwanenfeldii by Pieter Bleeker in 1853, and has also been placed in the genera Barbodes and Puntius. The specific epithet is frequently misspelled schwanefeldii.
The clown loach, or tiger botia, is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the botiid loach family. It is the sole member of the genus Chromobotia. It originates in inland waters in Indonesia on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. In Sentarum, West Borneo that fish named: ulanguli. It is a popular fish in the freshwater aquarium trade and is sold worldwide.
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The red-tailed black shark, also known as the redtail shark, red tailed shark, and redtail sharkminnow, is a species of tropical freshwater fish in the carp family, Cyprinidae. It’s named after its shark like appearance and movement, as well as its distinctive red tail. Despite its name, it is more closely related to carp. It is endemic to streams and rivers in Thailand and is currently critically endangered. However, it is common in aquaria, where it is prized for its deep black body, and vivid red orange tail. These are moderately sized tropical aquarium fish who are active benthic swimmers. They are omnivorous but are willing to scavenge if the opportunity arises. They are known for their activity as well as their temperament towards other fish. The red-tailed black sharks seen in the aquarium trade today are all captive bred.
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The croaking gourami is a species of small freshwater labyrinth fish of the gourami family. They are native to still waters in Southeast Asia and are distributed worldwide via the aquarium trade. Croaking gouramis are capable of producing a "croaking" noise using their pectoral fins.
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The royal knifefish or Indochina featherback is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Notopteridae found in the Mekong basin in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.
Chitala is a genus of fish of the family Notopteridae. This genus contains six species, some of which are important in aquaculture and the aquarium industry. They are commonly known as the Asian knifefishes or featherbacks. They are native to freshwater in South East and Southeast Asia.
Yasuhikotakia modesta is a tropical freshwater fish of the family Botiidae. It is native to large rivers in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The blue botia is a widely available fish in the aquarium trade and can be purchased globally.
The bronze featherback is a ray-finned fish in the family Notopteridae found in South and Southeast Asia. Although primarily found in fresh water, it has been known to enter brackish water. At present, it is the only member of the genus Notopterus, but as currently defined, it is likely a species complex.
Chitala chitala is a knifefish from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan, found in the Brahmaputra, Indus, Ganges and Mahanadi River basins. It is sometimes known as the Indian featherback or Indian knifefish. In the past, it frequently included several related Chitala species, but these are now regarded as separate species. The main species confused with this species is C. ornata ; a Southeast Asian species seen regularly in the aquarium trade. The true C. chitala is very rare in the aquarium trade.
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The reticulated knifefish is a species of freshwater fish in the family Notopteridae, the featherbacks, found in tropical West Africa. It reaches a maximum length of 80 cm (31 in) and a reported weight of 1.3 kg (2.9 lb).
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Syncrossus helodes, commonly known as banded loach, tiger botia or lesser katy loach, is a freshwater fish in the loach family Botiidae. It is native to rivers in Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. S. helodes resembles S. hymenophysa from Borneo, Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia, and the two have frequently been confused. It differs from the latter species by the absence of a dark spot on the dorsal fin, 10–12 bars on body without blue borders and the presence of irregular dark markings on the lower body.
The threestripe gourami, also known as the Mekong croaking gourami, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish from the subfamily Macropodusinae which is part of the gourami family Osphronemidae. It is native to south-east Asia.