Brown Knife
The Brown Knife Fish is an aquarium classic. Found in Brazil, Peru and the Guianas, the Brown Knife was described by Ellis in 1912 as the Apteronotus leptorhynchus . As is common for most knifefish, the body is elongated without a dorsal fin and has one long anal fin that is used to propel the knifefish through the water, often in reverse as fast as forward. Using a weak electrical field to help navigate at night (and in murky water), the Brown Knife does best as the sole knifefish in the aquarium, unless introduced simultaneously. In the aquarium it will require many hiding places and will immediately claim any long caves. (Hide a PVC pipe under other rocks to make a knife-house.) This knife will eat most meaty foods, chopped worms, sinking pellets and even some flake foods, though it is initially a shy eater and will take time to adapt to aquarium feeding. As its name implies, the Brown Knifefish has a brown body with a slightly transparent anal fin and can reach a length of 15”, though aquarium specimens are usually 5 to 8 inches in length. The knife should be treated as a smooth skin fish when treating for parasite infestations. Safe with other docile fish, make sure the Brown Knife has a good hiding place and is an active eater.
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