Royal Clown Knife Fish`Care Guide – How to Keep This Majestic Monster Thriving in Your Aquarium

Introduction: Grace Meets Power in the Royal Clown Knife

The Royal Clown Knife Fish (Chitala blanci or select morphs of Chitala ornata) is one of the most elegant large fish in the freshwater hobby. With its elongated, blade-shaped body, mesmerizing swimming style, and iridescent spots, it brings a regal, prehistoric presence to monster tanks.

Often confused with the common clown knife, the “Royal” morph typically features a more defined pattern, enhanced coloration, and a sleeker profile. This fish is peaceful for its size, but still a voracious predator — perfect for aquarists who love exotic monsters with style.

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🔍 Species Overview

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🏠 Ideal Tank Setup

📏 Tank Size

• Minimum: 300 gallons for juveniles

• Ideal: 500–1,000 gallons for adults or indoor ponds

The Royal Clown Knife is a long-bodied, fast-growing species. A narrow tank won’t cut it — they need length, depth, and unobstructed swimming space.

🪨 Aquascaping & Environment

• Open swimming lanes with soft sand or smooth gravel

• Driftwood and dim lighting preferred

• Low-flow water for comfort

• Use floating plants for shade and stress reduction

• Avoid sharp decor — they can injure their soft scaleless skin

Knives are shy and prefer low-light, shadowy environments when young.

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💧 Water Parameters

Knife fish are sensitive to poor water quality. Invest in strong canister or sump filtration and perform 30–40% weekly water changes.

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🍽️ Feeding & Diet

Royal Clown Knives are carnivores, often picky at first, but can be trained to accept frozen foods with patience.

✅ Best Foods:

• Raw tilapia or shrimp chunks

• Frozen silversides, bloodworms

• Earthworms and nightcrawlers

• Massivore sticks (for trained adults)

• Live fish (only temporarily and if quarantined)

Feed juveniles 2–3 times a day, adults once daily. Overfeeding can lead to fatty liver disease, especially with heavy protein diets.

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🧠 Behavior & Personality

• Nocturnal when young, becomes bolder with size

• Intelligent, recognizes owners over time

• Can cohabitate with large non-aggressive fish

• Very fast and agile, especially during feeding

Their signature movement — gliding backward or hovering in place — makes them captivating to watch.

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👫 Tank Mate Compatibility

Royal Clown Knives are predators but can do well in peaceful monster setups when tank size is sufficient.

✅ Compatible Tankmates:

• Arowana

• Peacock Bass

• Stingrays

• Piraiba Catfish

• Silver Dollars

• Datnoids

• Giant Gouramis

• Polypterus (bichirs)

❌ Avoid:

• Fish under 4 inches — they’ll become food

• Aggressive or nippy fish (e.g., Red Devils, Dovii)

• Fin-nippers — knives have sensitive fins

Always observe new tank dynamics. Clown Knives are shy, so avoid overly aggressive or competitive tankmates.

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📏 Growth Rate

• Reaches 12–18 inches in the first year

• Slows after 18–24 months

• Full size of 24–36 inches within 2–3 years

• Requires regular tank upgrades or planning for pond housing

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🧬 Breeding Notes

Breeding Royal Clown Knives in captivity is rare and typically only achieved in commercial farms or massive aquariums.

• Monogamous pairings

• Spawn in submerged caves or driftwood crevices

• Male guards eggs and fan them with his fins

• Fry need very small live food (e.g., baby brine shrimp)

Due to their size and behavior, breeding is not practical for most home hobbyists.

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🌟 Unique Highlights

• Striking metallic body with black-ringed eyespots

• Graceful, hypnotic swimming behavior

• Grows into a show-stopping predator

• Low aggression despite large size

• One of the most elegant monster fish available

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💲 Why Buy Royal Clown Knife from RobsAquatics.com?

• Captive-raised and trained to eat frozen foods

• Carefully quarantined for health and parasite prevention

• Shipped with heat packs, oxygen, and insulation

• Expert support for monster fish keepers

• Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee

At Rob’s Aquatics, we specialize in rare, healthy monster fish that are ready for success in your display tank or pond.

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🧠 Final Thoughts

The Royal Clown Knife is a fish that commands attention without chaos. Its quiet, stalking nature is balanced by beauty, grace, and size. For aquarists who love the elegance of knife fish but demand a monster presence, this species is unmatched.

Perfect for:

• Monster community tanks

• Display aquariums and indoor ponds

• Aquarists who enjoy exotic behavior

• Predator setups with a peaceful dynamic

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📢 Call to Action

👉 Order your Royal Clown Knife from RobsAquatics.com and add one of the most mysterious and graceful freshwater predators to your monster tank today.