African brown knifefish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids African brown knifefish |
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The African brown knifefish (Xenomystus nigri) is a unique fish. It is the only species in its group, Xenomystus. This fish lives in many rivers and basins across Africa. You can find it in the Chad, Nile, Congo, Ogowe and Niger basins. It also lives in coastal rivers in countries like Sierra Leone, Liberia, Togo, Benin and Cameroon.
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How the African Brown Knifefish Looks
This fish can grow up to 30 centimeters (about 12 inches) long. Its body is quite special. It is flat and long, looking a bit like a knife blade. This shape helps it move easily in the water.
The knifefish has a very long fin. This fin is made up of its tail fin (caudal fin) and the fin on its belly (anal fin). It runs all the way from under its gills to the tip of its body. This long, skirt-like fin helps the fish swim forward and backward. It uses very little energy to do this. The small fins on its underside (pelvic fins) are tiny and not used for swimming. It does not have a fin on its back (dorsal fin) at all!
Its front fins, called pectoral fins, are long. They help the fish steer very precisely. The knifefish often moves these fins like windmills. This helps it hide in its home.
The scales on the knifefish are super small. This makes its skin look smooth. You can see a clear line running along its side. This is called the lateral line. It is very important for the knifefish. Besides its eyes, the lateral line is its main way to sense things.
The African brown knifefish is active at night (nocturnal). It uses its lateral line to find its way in dark waters. This line has many nerve-filled pits. Its eyes are also quite big for its body size. This gives it excellent night vision.
The fish has a large mouth. It also has two short whiskers, called barbels. These barbels help the fish find food. The knifefish often swims with its head down. Its barbels stay close to the riverbed. This helps it find food along with its sharp eyesight.
Where the Knifefish Lives and What It Eats
This fish likes quiet water with lots of plants. Female knifefish lay 150 to 200 eggs. Each egg is about 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) wide.
These fish can make barking sounds! They also come to the surface sometimes to breathe air. They eat small creatures like worms, crustaceans, insects, and snails.
Keeping African Brown Knifefish in Aquariums
The African brown knifefish is sometimes kept as an aquarium fish. It has been a popular pet for a long time. Since this fish is mostly active at night, it will hide from bright lights in an aquarium.
When these fish get bigger, they might try to eat smaller fish in the tank. This is because they have quite large mouths for their size. Young knifefish do well when kept in small groups. However, as they get older, they can become a bit aggressive towards other knifefish.
See also
- List of freshwater aquarium fish species
