Becca
Fishaholic
Ok. Before I post the actual question, let me state - for the record - I know my African Brown Knife will grow to be too big for my tank, but he's still pretty small (~5-6 inches) and quite honestly, looks great in the tank. I've yet to find him a home, shy of dumping him at a LFS. 
So for a little while, I'd like to enjoy him.
Anyway, here's my problem:
When I first got the fish, I added him to the tank, then found out about a week later that he really needs a tube or a cave to hide in. For the first week, he was hiding between the castle that I have and the back of the aqarium when he was resting. So, I went out, spent $10 on a "Knife Home" and placed it in the middle of the bottom of the tank so I could see him rest. That was about 3 weeks ago.
Has he used it? Yup - twice. To swim IN it, then directly OUT of it. Does he still rest behind the small dinky castle that only covers his face? Yup. Does he TRY to fit himself into the small dinky cave that can really only house my smaller fish (Zebras, and anything that size) - YUP. Nevermind no one uses that cave except for the algea eater. For that matter, no one uses the KNife Home either.
I've been told that Knife fish are mostly blind and even if you buy a clear home, they'll still use it because they'll feel secure. They're blind critters, so seeing if something is on the otherside of the wall won't matter.
What I'm wondering is if I really have a Knife, or, if I do have a Knife, if mine is somewhat "special" - when he hides, it's always his face area - which would shade his eyes from the activity of the tank (much like how when a small child covers their eyes, they think they're hidden from everyone else...). Is it possible my Knife isn't blind and that's the reason he's not using the clear Knife Home?
So for a little while, I'd like to enjoy him. Anyway, here's my problem:
When I first got the fish, I added him to the tank, then found out about a week later that he really needs a tube or a cave to hide in. For the first week, he was hiding between the castle that I have and the back of the aqarium when he was resting. So, I went out, spent $10 on a "Knife Home" and placed it in the middle of the bottom of the tank so I could see him rest.
That was about 3 weeks ago.Has he used it? Yup - twice. To swim IN it, then directly OUT of it. Does he still rest behind the small dinky castle that only covers his face? Yup. Does he TRY to fit himself into the small dinky cave that can really only house my smaller fish (Zebras, and anything that size) - YUP. Nevermind no one uses that cave except for the algea eater. For that matter, no one uses the KNife Home either.
I've been told that Knife fish are mostly blind and even if you buy a clear home, they'll still use it because they'll feel secure. They're blind critters, so seeing if something is on the otherside of the wall won't matter.
What I'm wondering is if I really have a Knife, or, if I do have a Knife, if mine is somewhat "special" - when he hides, it's always his face area - which would shade his eyes from the activity of the tank (much like how when a small child covers their eyes, they think they're hidden from everyone else...). Is it possible my Knife isn't blind and that's the reason he's not using the clear Knife Home?
