
Where to buy Jackknife Fish
ReefDock searches the following reef retailers for this fish. Click through to see the live price.
- Search Saltwaterfish
Saltwaterfish
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- Search Amazon
Amazon
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- Search Petco
Petco
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About Jackknife Fish
Elongated body with bold vertical black and white stripes, a steeply angled head profile, and the first three dorsal spines notably elongated, giving a "sail-like" appearance. The fish is named for its characteristic posture with the body arched like a folding jackknife.
Key facts
- Max Size
- 9
- Family
- Sciaenidae
- Care Level
- Moderate
- Origin
- Western Atlantic from Florida and the Bahamas south to Brazil, including the Caribbean.
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Reef safety
- Reef Safe with Caution
- Difficulty Level
- Moderate - Requires some experience due to specific dietary water or tank requirements. Best suited for intermediate aquarists.
- Diet
- carnivore
- Feeding Schedule
- Feed 2-3 times daily
- Care Requirements
- • Minimum 75-gallon tank; prefers tall aquariums with vertical space • Nocturnal; needs dim lighting and hiding places (caves, PVC) • Feed small meaty foods: mysis shrimp, small fish, zooplankton • Peaceful but may hunt tiny fish at night • Stable parameters: 72–78°F, pH 8.1–8.3, 1.020–1.026 SG
- Appearance
- Elongated body with bold vertical black and white stripes, a steeply angled head profile, and the first three dorsal spines notably elongated, giving a "sail-like" appearance. The fish is named for its characteristic posture with the body arched like a folding jackknife.
- Water Parameters
- Temperature: 72-78°F pH: 8.1-8.3 Salinity: 1.02-1.025
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