Oddballs & predators

82 freshwater aquarium species in the oddballs & predators group, including African bonytongue, African knifefish and African Reedfish. 31 have a full care profile with tank size, temperature, pH and temperament, compared in the table below.

Oddballs & predators care compared

Species	Adult size	Min. tank	Temperature	pH	Temperament	Care
African bonytongueHeterotis niloticus	100 cm (39 in)	455 L (120 US gal)	24–30°C (75–86°F)	6.7–7.5	Aggressive	Difficult
African knifefishXenomystus nigri	30 cm (12 in)	210 L (55 US gal)	23–28°C (73–82°F)	6.0–8.0	Aggressive	Moderate
African ReedfishErpetoichthys calabaricus	91.4 cm (36 in)	340 L (90 US gal)	22.2–27.8°C (72–82°F)	7.0	Peaceful	Easy
Amazon leaffishMonocirrhus polyacanthus	10 cm (3.9 in)	75 L (20 US gal)	22–26°C (72–79°F)	6.0–6.5	Semi-aggressive	Difficult
ArawanaOsteoglossum bicirrhosum	120 cm (47 in)	475 L (125 US gal)	25–30°C (77–86°F)	6.0–6.5	Aggressive	Easy
Barred bichirPolypterus delhezi	44 cm (17 in)	210 L (55 US gal)	25–28°C (77–82°F)	6.0–8.0	Aggressive	Moderate
Black arawanaOsteoglossum ferreirai	100 cm (39 in)	475 L (125 US gal)	25–30°C (77–86°F)	5.0–7.0	Aggressive	Moderate
Black ghostApteronotus albifrons	50 cm (20 in)	210 L (55 US gal)	23–28°C (73–82°F)	6.0–8.0	Aggressive	Moderate
Bronze featherbackNotopterus notopterus	60 cm (24 in)	75 L (20 US gal)	24–28°C (75–82°F)	6.0–6.5	Aggressive	Moderate
Clown knifefishChitala chitala	122 cm (48 in)	210 L (55 US gal)	24–27°C (75–81°F)	5.5–7.0	–	Moderate
Eel LoachPangio anguillaris	190.5 cm (75 in)	75 L (20 US gal)	24–26°C (75–79°F)	5.0–6.0	Peaceful	Easy
Elephantnose fishGnathonemus petersii	23 cm (9.1 in)	115 L (30 US gal)	23–28°C (73–82°F)	6.0–7.0	Aggressive	Difficult
Freshwater butterflyfishPantodon buchholzi	11 cm (4.3 in)	75 L (20 US gal)	24–30°C (75–86°F)	6.7–7.5	Aggressive	–
Gangetic leaffishNandus nandus	20 cm (7.9 in)	150 L (40 US gal)	23–27°C (73–81°F)	6.9–8.0	Aggressive	Moderate
Glass knifefishEigenmannia virescens	35 cm (14 in)	210 L (55 US gal)	23–28°C (73–82°F)	6.0–7.5	Aggressive	Difficult
Gray bichirPolypterus senegalus senegalus	50.5 cm (20 in)	210 L (55 US gal)	25–28°C (77–82°F)	6.0–8.0	Aggressive	Moderate
Indochina featherbackChitala blanci	122 cm (48 in)	210 L (55 US gal)	20–28°C (68–82°F)	5.5–7.0	–	Moderate
Indonesian snakeheadChanna micropeltes	130 cm (51 in)	–	22–28°C (72–82°F)	6.5–7.5	Aggressive	Easy
Lesser spiny eelMacrognathus aculeatus	38 cm (15 in)	115 L (30 US gal)	20–28°C (68–82°F)	6.5–7.5	Aggressive	Easy
Ornate bichirPolypterus ornatipinnis	61 cm (24 in)	210 L (55 US gal)	25–28°C (77–82°F)	6.0–8.0	Aggressive	Moderate
PirapatingaPiaractus brachypomus	88 cm (35 in)	–	22–28°C (72–82°F)	4.8–6.8	Peaceful	Easy
South American freshwater stingrayPotamotrygon motoro	76 cm (30 in)	455 L (120 US gal)	24–26°C (75–79°F)	6.5–7.0	Peaceful	–
West African bichirPolypterus retropinnis	32 cm (13 in)	210 L (55 US gal)	22–24°C (72–75°F)	7.0–7.5	Aggressive	Moderate
Zig-zag eelMastacembelus armatus	38 cm (15 in)	475 L (125 US gal)	22–27°C (72–81°F)	6.5–7.5	Aggressive	Easy
Alfaro cultratus	7.5 cm (3 in)	75 L (20 US gal)	24–26°C (75–79°F)	6.0–8.0	Semi-aggressive	Easy
Apteronotus leptorhynchus	25 cm (9.8 in)	210 L (55 US gal)	23–27°C (73–81°F)	5.8–7.5	Aggressive	Moderate
Channa aurantimaculata	40 cm (16 in)	210 L (55 US gal)	22.2–26.7°C (72–80°F)	6.0–7.5	Aggressive	Easy
Dario dario	54 cm (21 in)	40 L (11 US gal)	23–26°C (73–79°F)	6.5–7.5	Semi-aggressive	–
Gymnothorax tile	60 cm (24 in)	210 L (55 US gal)	20–28°C (68–82°F)	7.0–8.0	Aggressive	–
Parachanna obscura	50 cm (20 in)	210 L (55 US gal)	22–28°C (72–82°F)	6.5–7.5	Aggressive	Moderate
Petrocephalus bovei bovei	11 cm (4.3 in)	75 L (20 US gal)	25–29°C (77–84°F)	6.0	Peaceful	Difficult

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