Here are some interesting facts about tropical fish:

• More than half of the people who buy tropical fish start by buying a small aquarium before upgrading to a bigger one. They are quite addictive it appears. To avoid the hassle of going back to the pet shop for a bigger tank, avoid buying a very small one.

• Different types of tropical fish have different behavior. Some do not mingle with fish from another species, some are anti social and prefer to be alone, and some are super aggressive while some will give quality time to anyone who is there. Before you make your purchase, try to find out what the fish will act like.

• Tropical fish are not all equally adept at surviving in a fish tank with fluctuating levels of ammonia and nitrate. Be sure to get the type of fish that can survive the environment you can provide.

• Do not just look at the size another of the fish when you are buying them. Find out how big they can grow. Some fish look small but later on will grow much bigger – forcing you to buy fish tank.

• Be sure to fit the aquarium with filters, pumps and heaters. These filtration systems will create the right environment for your fish to live in. Take note that not all filtration systems are the same. The filtration system should suit the type of fish you want.

Knife fish fun facts

• Knife fish are usually nocturnal although they tend to be active in the day once in a while. They could swim forwards and backwards with the same relative ease.

• These tropical fish are very flexible and can literally turn in its body length as it changes direction.

• Knife fish have poor eyesight and they rely on their sensitive lateral lines to feel around its surroundings. They usually sneak behind their prey and swallow it whole which doesn’t make it a suitable companion for other small fish.

• These fish are very shy and panicky when changes occur in their environment.

Knife fish care

Keeping a knife fish in an aquarium needs certain requirements. A lot of things should be considered such as their large size, their companions, the acidity of the water and the lighting as well as their hiding place.

Knife fish in artificial fish tank

Due to their large size (10-13 inches), knife fish need to be housed in a large aquarium, which should be around 55 gallons when they are smaller and 300 gallons when they are larger. The pH of the water should be neutral to basic and the hardness should be softer. They need to have a hiding place during the day. These fish tolerate larger fish than themselves but never smaller fish as they can eat smaller fish at any moment.