Info on Sternarchorhamphus macrostomus. Platyurosternarchus (formerly Sternarchorhamphus) macrostomus   8/23/07
Hello all.
<Hi.>
Well, I do a lot of the ordering at a store I work at, and I managed to get in two Knifefish under the name 'elephant knives'. The species appears to be Sternarchorhamphus macrostomus, but the problem is I cannot locate ANY information on this fish outside of the limited info under the picture in Axelrod's Atlas.
<Likely one reason is that the genus is considered to be Platyurosternarchus by some. Using this name will bring up more hits in databases and the net, although not as much information as you would certainly like to have. In addition a proper ID is not easy. Also have a look on other members of the Apteronotidae or Gymnotiformes in general (http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/knifefishfaqs.htm).>
I only managed to get 2, and I cannot get more, so I'm thinking very seriously of getting them for myself.
<Certainly very rare if this species.>
I was wondering if anyone here has any information on these fish.
<Not much, but I’d expect it to be similar to more common ghost knives and other neo-tropical knife fishes. Likely will attain 15” and is slightly electric. Would not keep it with other electric fishes. Many occur in groups and use their electric organ to communicate, so I would not separate the two specimens you have. Small fish will probably be eaten. Plenty of floating plants would help them to feel comfortable, since many are nocturnal. Males are usually much larger. Breeding possibly can be triggered by imitating rain season.>
They are feeding well on frozen/thawed bloodworms right out of my hand, and as far as I can tell are showing no aggression towards one another.
<Great.>
Thanks for any help you can give!
<Have fun with your new fish. Seems you are doing some pioneer work. Marco.>

Steatogenys duidae
  Hello,
       I was wondering whether you might know anything about a certain Knifefish "Steatogenys duidae", I saw it listed as the Centipede Knifefish at "Zang exotic Fish Company" but can't find information about it anywhere else, (and i think a seller's information should always be treated as a little suspect just to be safe). I know you should always research a fish before you even consider buying it but this species has got me stumped. Would it work in a 55gal community tank?
Thank you
    J Dunlap  
<Mmm, IS a valid genus, species of hypopomid knife... I suspect it's care is very similar to the ever-popular Black Ghost Knifefish. On fishbase: http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?ID=48119&genusname=Steatogenys&speciesname=duidae
A fifty should work out fine... subdued lighting, live foods, soft, acidic water, an absence of metal dye medications... Bob Fenner>

Ghost Knife
Hi, I recently bought a new fish from a local pet store and he is doing just fine.  The guy that sold it to me said it was a Black Ghost Knife fish, although the fish does not have a white stripe down its back or a white band around its tail. It does, however,
have a very dark brownish red stripe where the white one normally is and no band of color on the tail. The fish's body is jet black. Is this a Black Ghost? If you know the answer could you email me back? Thanks!
<Hmm..., not quite sure, do you have a picture?  Check out Monga bay and fishbase to see if you can find a match. -Gage
http://www.mongabay.com/fish/knifefish.htm
http://fishbase.org  >

UFS (Unidentified Freshwater Specimen)
Hello again, Mr. Fenner!
On my yesterday's trip to my LFS I spotted in one of the freshwater tanks, along with some Discus, a black sort of "file fish" thin) around 2" long; it also had a white stripe near the head and a peculiar way of swimming, since it only uses a long ventral fin to do it. Not recognizing the species I asked the employee the name of it. The answer was: "It's a Roberty... but that's all I know!". Can you please give me any clue of it is, or a positive ID of this specimen???
<Umm, sounds like a "Black Ghost Knifefish" to me: Apteronotus albifrons. Please take a look on the net (at least fishbase.org) under these names. Bob Fenner>
Thank You,
best regards !
Luis Santos

Knife fish cheerleaders? (04/21/03)
I have just recently purchased a knife fish from the local petstore. The fish was called a "Pom Pom Knife fish" but I have searched all over the internet and not found anything.
<I'm finding a lot on knife fish, and even more on pom poms, but nothing about pom pom knife fish... nothing on cheerleader knife fish, either.>
The fish looks exactly like the Black Ghost Knife fish but mine doesn't have the white tail and isn't electric. I was wondering if you might know of a fish that is quite similar to the Black Ghost Knife fish so I can see if it is what I have and find out how to take care of it.
<Try this site for descriptions of several types of knife fish: http://www.mongabay.com/fish/knifefish.htm>
Thanks,
Erik Crawford
<You're welcome. --Ananda>