The clown knifefish is very distinct, with normally silvery gray with a long knife-like body (laterally compressed) and a long anal fin that gives these fish their common name. Mature fish normally have five to ten (or even more) black spots ringed with white that usually decrease in size as the fish grows. These ocellated spots and the lack of faint stripes on the back separate it from "Chitala chitala"; a species it frequently has been confused with. Albinos and leucistic specimens are seen with some frequency in the aquarium trade.