Black Ghost Knife Feeding And Tankmates

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mrfrenchi

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I have a ten inch BGK in a 60 gallon tank with two denison barb (rose-lined shark) and two giant danio. They all get along, but I want to add a few more fish. I'm not sure on what to add, but I was thinking of throwing in some angels. Would this be a good mix? If not what else could I put in with him? Also how much should I feed him? I give him one block of red blood worms in the morning and one before I turn off the light, but it doesn't seem to be enough.
 
I'm pretty sure a 60 gallon tank wouldn't be acceptable long term as these beasts get to be 20" or so.... might want to reconsider tank size or possibly going for a larger tank before adding more fish to the tank you have...
 
BGKs need a variety of small invertebrates, ideally supplemented with finely chopped (thiaminase-free!) seafood like tilapia fillet and cockles. Fortified brine shrimp are an especially good wet-frozen food. Krill are a good supplemental food.

Your tank will probably be okay for a year or two yet, but long-term, these fish do really need as large an aquarium as possible. They're extremely sensitive to low oxygen concentrations and high nitrate levels, and big, lightly-stocked tanks help in this regard. Your other two fish species aren't bad choices at all, both thriving in the not-too-warm, high-turnover, oxygen-rich conditions that BGKs require.

Do note how few adult BGKs you see in captivity. Very few are kept properly, and most die long before reaching full size (which may take well over 10 years).

Cheers, Neale
 
I saw a BKG in my LFS and well im sold. they are so pretty and the more i read about them the more a i want one. The research I have done on them seems to be split down the middle on tank mates. Some say they will eat small fish definitely while others say that if fed at night and kept calm with lots of hiding places they wont? I also read as they mature they will be less likely to eat other fish. I am trying to set up a community tank for my betta fish with small shoals, My LFS says he will be fine might eat one of two as he settles in but as long as i keep him happy and well fed, i know they also can eat sick fish if present.

I cant make a conclusion from the research. I could up the size of the other tank mates for the betta, neon tetras, cherry barbs and some guppies but if i can set up an environment where is he more likely to be passive i might try it, I was also thinking about putting in shrimp and some snail and maybe a corydoras? Is this a massive no no or worth the risk and tampering that might be necessary, General agreement is split down the middle on this guy, loving and peaceful and night predator on the other side? :S

Anyone have this kind of set up and have it work? I really need to stay out of my LFS i cant help but get sucked in by fish with personality and this one has sooo much of it..
 
loving and peaceful and night predator on the other side? :S

I think its worth mentioning that a fish can be both, just because a fish is predatory doesn't mean it can't also be peaceful,
A fish that has a big mouth is going to eat small fish simple as that, but fish of an adequate size will and do live peacefully side by side.

Good sized corys should be fine with a BGK but the rest of the fish you have mentioned above are not ideal tankmates to say the least,
 

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