The Asian knifefishes were long known to aquarists as Notopterus species. The American scientist Tyson Roberts revised the Afro-Asian knifefishes (Notopteridae) in 1992 and used the generic name Chitala Fowler, 1934, for the high-backed Southeast Asian knifefishes, also known as thousand-dollar fishes. Only the relatively flat-backed Asian species remain in Notopterus. The actual thousand-dollar fish (Chitala ornata) is kept relatively frequently in the aquarium because the species is bred in large quantities as a food fish.
Roberts found that it is impossible to distinguish the Chitala species by anything other than coloration characteristics. The following applies: Chitala lopis (including C. borneensis and C. hypselonotus, which can only be distinguished from C. lopis with genetic methods) is silver-colored as an adult fish, C. ornata has eyespots (= dark center, light edge) on the lower half of the body, C. blanci is striped and C. chitala has light spots on the back and dark spots on the lower half of the body. As juveniles, all Chitala species are striped and can hardly be distinguished. But even with adult C. ornata, no two animals (of about 50 specimens examined) are identically marked, all are individually recognizable.
All members of the genus Chitala can reach quite enormous lengths of up to 1 m and more. They are therefore only suitable for really large aquariums. However, as they reach sexual maturity much earlier, they can be bred in aquaria from around 1.5 m in length. The animals spawn on stones, root wood and the like. The male guards the spawn. Chitala are relatively easy to care for, apart from the size of the animals. Each animal needs its own hiding place in the aquarium, otherwise there will be incompatibilities. They will eat pretty much any food of animal origin. Their ability to swallow should not be underestimated. An approx. 30 cm long Chitala will easily eat 2-3 goldfish of 4-6 cm in length and won’t even look particularly plump around the waist afterwards. Enviable animals!
For our customers: Chitala ornata has code 410503 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Literature:
Roberts, T. (1992): Systematic revision of the Old World freshwater fish family Notopteridae. Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters 2 (4): 361-383
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
