Centipede Knifefish

The Centipede Knifefish earns the name by creating the illusion of small walking centipede feet as the long anal fin undulates. This wild knifefish from the Amazon basin also earns another name - the leaf knifefish - due to its habit of finding leaves to lie beside until night, when it awakens and begins the hunt for small insects. Centipede knifefish will adapt to frozen brine and other foods but it is best to have a supply of live brine or live black worms to help with the transition. Suitable for most community aquariums without very small micro species (shrimp, micro rasboras), an addition of a centipede knifefish will create quite the stir. AND these knifefish only grow to nine inches, so they are never a threat to mid-size tetras and barbs.

Quick Facts

Care Guide

Tank setup: Give them plants, driftwood and tubes or caves to hide in, plus dim lighting. They are most active at night.

Feeding: Feed frozen foods like bloodworms and brine shrimp once a day. Some learn to take sinking pellets.

Tankmates: They are shy and peaceful, so keep them with calm community fish too large to fit in their mouth.

Good to know: Like other knifefish, they swim by rippling one long fin along their belly and can move backward easily.