Giant Featherback Knifefish — Chitala lopis

Ancient silhouette with silent glide

The Giant Featherback Knifefish is a true Southeast Asian river giant, known for its long, laterally compressed body and flowing ribbon-like fin that runs along the underside. Unlike species with bold eye spots, Chitala lopis carries a more understated, metallic silver to bronze body that reflects light smoothly as it moves. Its sleek, blade-like profile and constant undulating motion give it a ghost-like presence in large aquariums.

Native to large river systems in Indonesia and surrounding regions, the Giant Featherback is primarily nocturnal and highly aware of its surroundings. It moves with fluid precision, able to swim forward and backward effortlessly. Despite its calm appearance, it is a serious predator capable of engulfing surprisingly large prey.

This species can exceed 3–4 feet (36–48+ inches) in captivity when properly housed. It is suited only for very large aquariums or indoor pond systems and requires experienced care.

Aquarium Setup

Minimum Tank Size: 500+ gallons (8 ft+ length minimum; pond setups ideal long-term)
Substrate: Sand or smooth bottom
Flow: Moderate
Décor: Large driftwood and shaded retreat areas with open swimming lanes
Lighting: Dim to moderate
Cover: Extremely secure lid required
Filtration: Oversized biological filtration essential (heavy waste producer)

Tank Mates

Best housed with very large, robust species:

Arowana
Large datnoids
Giant gouramis
Massive cichlids
Large catfish

Avoid small fish — they will be eaten. Avoid aggressive species that may stress or injure the knifefish.

Water Parameters

Temperature: 75–82°F (24–28°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Hardness: Soft to medium
Water Quality: Clean, stable conditions critical
Oxygen: Moderate to high dissolved oxygen preferred

Diet

Carnivorous:

Fish fillet
Shrimp and prawn
Whole fish (frozen/thawed recommended)
High-protein pellets (once trained)

KNIFEFISH