Clown knifefish
Chitala ornata
A state link is a recorded source association, not a catch guarantee or confirmation that targeting is legal. Check current regulations with the responsible state agency.
- Peak months
- Typical depth
- Typical size
- Catch minimum
- National record
See state records · Browse all fishing records
Biology, seasons and size reflect the canonical source record, which may contain Florida context. They are not state-specific guidance for every linked state. Missing fields remain unfilled.
Overview
- Habitat summary
- Lakes, swamps, and river backwaters; young fish occur in schools among aquatic plants and submerged roots; adults tend to be loaners commonly found near shore in areas with overhanging vegetation or docks; utilizes air to survive in warm, stagnant waters with little oxygen.
- Diet
- Feeding Habits: Feeds on a variety of prey including small fish, insects, and grass shrimp.
- Water type
- freshwater
When to fish
- Seasonality
- Spawning Habitats: Reportedly spawning takes place in spring when females each lay thousands of eggs on the substrate or piece of wood; male cares for the eggs by fanning them with his tail, keeping them aerated and silt-free; later male reportedly protects hatched fry.
Where to fish
- Habitat summary
- Lakes, swamps, and river backwaters; young fish occur in schools among aquatic plants and submerged roots; adults tend to be loaners commonly found near shore in areas with overhanging vegetation or docks; utilizes air to survive in warm, stagnant waters with little oxygen.
- Habitat zone
- freshwater
- Fishing zone
- freshwater
How to catch
Not in the source.
Bait & lures
Not in the source.
Size
Not in the source.
Records
Recorded catches retain their source scope; state and world catches are not national records.
No record catch is in the source.
Related states & places
Place links are planning context, not proof of local species presence. Florida city links marked local context follow existing directory relationships, not catch reports.
Source-linked directories
Real local listings currently cover Florida only. Boat-ramp, charter and creator links below follow existing Florida species relationships. Bait-shop links are city context only, not species-targeting evidence.
Boat ramps — Florida
Selected examples from 1580 source-linked directory records.
- Prairie Creek - Camps Canal Take Out Point (Potano Paddling Trail)
- Lochloosa Park
- Lake Alto Park
- Santa Fe Lake Park
- Lindsey-Philips Park Boat Ramp
- Owen-Illinois Park at Windsor
- Earl P. Powers Park Boat Ramp
- Waldo Canal Park
Browse the Florida boat ramps directory
Bait shops — Florida
Selected examples from 628 source-linked city-context records.
Related species
Navigation links share a recorded scientific genus or a source state and water-type grouping. This is not a claim of identical habitat or legal targeting.
Source evidence by state
Florida
- common name local
- Clown Knifefish
- scientific name local
- Chitala ornata
- water type local
- freshwater
- enrichment status
- enriched
- geo regions fl
- Statewide Freshwater
- range precision
- region
Legacy Florida source profiles
LoveToFish is a national fishing guide. Fish species coverage spans all 50 states. Ramp, charter, bait shop, and creator directories currently cover Florida. Verify current local regulations with the responsible agency.