Feather Back

About

The feather back (Papyrocranus afer), also known as the African featherfin or reticulate knifefish, is one of the more seldom-seen predatory fish in the freshwater hobby, and for good reason. It grows into a truly imposing animal. Native to a broad sweep of West and Central African river systems, from the Senegal and Gambia basins eastward through the Niger delta and beyond, it favors slow-moving, heavily vegetated waters and is an obligate air-breather, meaning it must have access to the water's surface at all times. Like other members of the family Notopteridae, it moves by undulating a long fin that runs the length of its underside, formed by the fusion of the anal and caudal fins. A very different arrangement from the South American gymnotiforms that share the knifefish name. Adults develop a detailed reticulated pattern that becomes more pronounced with age. Behavior is the central challenge here: juveniles can sometimes be kept together, but maturing individuals grow increasingly intolerant, particularly toward other knifefish and often toward any tankmate they decide they dislike. Even reportedly peaceful cohabitation with large species like arowana is unpredictable. Most experienced keepers house this species alone, or with a very large, robust companion. Breeding has not been documented in captivity, and imports are infrequent.