Family: Notopteridae
African Brown Knifefish — a Notopteridae from Africa, peaceful; keep with similar-sized calm tankmates. Reaches 4–8 cm; keep in a group of 4–6 for natural behaviour. 20–26 °C.
Xenomystus nigri, a member of the family Notopteridae, comes from Africa, where it inhabits warm freshwater streams and lakes. Peaceful; keep with similar-sized calm tankmates and omnivore; prepared foods with regular variety, it grows to 4–8 cm and adapts well to a properly set-up aquarium in the 20–26 °C range. In a community tank it pairs well with Robust schooling cyprinids.
A moderate-level species: peaceful; keep with similar-sized calm tankmates; stable water matters more than fancy equipment.
Set the heater to 20–26 °C and avoid swings. pH 6.5–7.5, GH 5–15 dGH suit it.
Full size is 4–8 cm. Minimum tank: 77 L, with open swimming space along its middle of the water column habits.
Omnivore; prepared foods with regular variety. Vary the menu — quality flakes or pellets plus frozen or live foods.
Peaceful; keep with similar-sized calm tankmates. Recommended tankmates: Robust schooling cyprinids — Add activity without conflict. Avoid Much larger predators — Risk at night.
Native to Africa, where it lives in warm freshwater streams and lakes. Still to gentle current; Moderate oxygen levels.
Low escape risk, but a lid is cheap insurance.
In the aquarium: breeding is straightforward scatter-spawning. Subtle external differences.