My knife fish had an all you can eat buffet!!

First alittle bit about my little guy. I've had my African knife fish for a couple years now, I got him just as a little guy now he's around 12". He gets along with his tank buddies as long as I keep a couple feeders in there every couple of days.
Besides my quarantine tank and a tank I'm setting up to breed some BN plecos I have a feeder tank that I always have 100 or more feeders in. So I'm always the one feeding him, apparently yesterday while I was at work some friends of ours came over and my wife got the idea to show them how he eats, so she put at least 50 yes she put 50 rosies in their with him. Well by the time I got home they were all gone except 2 of them. There is no way eating that much in a couple of hrs can be good for him.

Sent from my SM-G530T1 using Fish Lore Aquarium Fish Forum mobile app

 

Eating that much food won't do it any harm, but if they're Rosy Red Shiners they contain thiaminase which prevents the assimilation of vitamin B (thiamin), so they're not a healthy food at the best of times...

 

I have thought about switching him to normal small feeders but everyone I have talked to have always said to stick with the roses, something about easier for digestion?

Sent from my SM-G530T1 using Fish Lore Aquarium Fish Forum mobile app

 

The photos show a Clown Kifefish, not an African. He will more than double his current size.

This species is a voracious predator, I'm not surprised that he ate all of those minnows.

 

I didn't realize what pic I put up sorry guys my African is almost just as big around 10". He's in a 120 gallon my clown is in a 150 gallon with 3 orion peacock base that range from 4-6". I'll put up another pic of him

Sent from my SM-G530T1 using Fish Lore Aquarium Fish Forum mobile app

 

Not to hijack, but the clown knife, and if you mean orinoco peacock bass, those will quickly outgrow a 150. You need a 8' x 4' tank minimum for them.

 

Yea I am preparing now for them to grow. My wife bought them for me as the lfs told her they only get 6" max. But right now the brown knife is in with the bass and the clown knife is in a 120 with plecos and a couple smaller fish. A friend of mine is working with me to build a 8'×3'x3' ply tank with 3 viewing spots. We're going to coat it with a rubber waterproof coating they sell for ponds (at least it's what he's suggesting). We didn't start the build yet but started the prep for where it's going to go in my finished basement.
Do worry you didn't hijack, I accept all comments and opinions. It's part of learning

Sent from my SM-G530T1 using Fish Lore Aquarium Fish Forum mobile app

 

bmxer901

Plywood tanks are a great idea. Liquid pond liners work very well. Just make sure you get one that silicone will adhere too for your windows.

 

I would like to make a small one to test first just so I feel more confident. I've watched so many videos and have been reading up like crqzy. Lucky for me my buddy has built a few but the biggest only being a 125g. I use to install custom ponds for a living and worked as a contractor, but I plan to take plenty of pictures.

Sent from my SM-G530T1 using Fish Lore Aquarium Fish Forum mobile app