Black ghost knife fish

[Nuttygal! :0)]

I've heard some of you guys talking about black ghost knife fish, but until the other day I had never actually seen them. Well, I went down to a LFS the other day and I saw some in a tank with loads of scalare and altum angels too! They are so cool, and for £5 each, I was really tempted to get some! But, considering I don't know anything about them, I wanted to check them out first!
So do you know anything about them or have any good websites on them?
Tanks!

 

[Fish Buddy]

They come from South America, like caves and hidouts and are meat eaters (I believe).

 

[Nuttygal! :0)]

...cool...thanks Fish Buddy!
Anything on compatibility etc?

 

[pica_nuttalli]

there's been a lot of questions on these lately in Oddballs... if you were to do a couple of searches, i'm sure you'd find all the info you're looking for.

 

[Fish Buddy]

I think they would be ok with fish half their size or larger that are also community fish. Don't stick them with guppies or the like as the knife would eat them for dinner.

 

[One_Trick_Pony]

well one thign i been told for sure is here nocturnal, but that u can cox hem out of that, and that they will eat smaller fish

 

[BlueIce]

BGK
Tank min of 55 g.
decorate with wood,rock,floating and rooted plants.

feed
shrimp
lobster
crab
brine shrimp
tubifex worms
blood worms
peas
spinach
cichlid pellets (small,sinking or floating)
fish worms

tank mates,
peaceful cichlids or community fish
nothing they can swallow,
nothing that nips
nothing with long flowing fins such as betta...


feed during the day only when you are feeding other fish...with lights on.

temps around 80f
ph neutral


if you follow this you will have success with you bgk...it will learn quickly (few days to a week) to come out no matter the time of day.

I recommend not using plastic tubes as caves...they don't need them..a cave made of driftwood and rock are all it takes to make them comfy...
mine hang right below a brancy piece of driftwood..even tho there are other much darker hiding places...


good luck...

do a search in members fish pics for my id and you'll find pics of my large bgk's

 

[lucky62]

BGK
Tank min of 55 g.
decorate with wood,rock,floating and rooted plants.

feed
shrimp
lobster
crab
brine shrimp
tubifex worms
blood worms
peas
spinach
cichlid pellets (small,sinking or floating)
fish worms

tank mates,
peaceful cichlids or community fish
nothing they can swallow,
nothing that nips
nothing with long flowing fins such as betta...


feed during the day only when you are feeding other fish...with lights on.

temps around 80f
ph neutral


if you follow this you will have success with you bgk...it will learn quickly (few days to a week) to come out no matter the time of day.

I recommend not using plastic tubes as caves...they don't need them..a cave made of driftwood and rock are all it takes to make them comfy...
mine hang right below a brancy piece of driftwood..even tho there are other much darker hiding places...


good luck...

do a search in members fish pics for my id and you'll find pics of my large bgk's

How's that Nuttygal


I was getting hungry up until brine shrimp .


Do BGK's have smaller mouths than say an African brown knife ?

 

[BlueIce]

Do BGK's have smaller mouths than say an African brown knife ?

No,I believe it's actually a little larger...

 

[nc_nutcase]

Question to the BGK experts... I just finished making a 550 Gal indoor pond which I plan to stock with Oscars and similar cichlids. If a 5-6 " BGK was put into a pond of this size to be raised with baby Oscars. How long do you think it would take before the Oscars out grew the knife to a point the knife wouldn't be safe/happy? Or whould they ever? I'm unfamiliar with the growth rate of BGK and also don't know if it would increase with this much space.

I know plenty about Oscars, some about BGK and typically I wouldn't house them together. But... since I'm considering doing so in such a large environment... and with the Oscars starting so small... is it possible that when the Os are small they will be weaker... and as they outgrow the knife they will leave it alone just because they are used to having him around.

Also if I did this, would the BGK be better off as one of his kind or should I get a small group (Im thinking 4).

 

[Johnny V]

the black ghost knife will grow to be a little over a foot long, albeit very very slowly. It should be ok as it isn't too aggressive, but very predatory. And since it's nocturnal it won't interact with the oscars too much. I have mine housed with some cichlids right now and they get along perfectly. BGK's shouldn't be housed with other BGK's as they will interfere with each others electrical fields (they are mostly blind and get around using an electrical field)

 

[BlueIce]

the black ghost knife will grow to be a little over a foot long, albeit very very slowly. It should be ok as it isn't too aggressive, but very predatory. And since it's nocturnal it won't interact with the oscars too much. I have mine housed with some cichlids right now and they get along perfectly. BGK's shouldn't be housed with other BGK's as they will interfere with each others electrical fields (they are mostly blind and get around using an electrical field)

That is just a myth...the electrical impulse is so slight that it has no affect what-so-ever on other bgk or any other fish.It is used soley for finding food and navigating.
True they are nocturnal,but not solely...they come out at any hour to feed if there is food available...as well they come out just to search out food and swim at all hours.
They actually can grow up to approx 19 inches,tho they are very slow growers.
I would have some heavily planted areas and caves made of driftwood and rock.They love branchy driftwood and will hang under the branches to rest.

I've never had one with an oscar,but know many who have and not had issue.
Mine are housed with other bgk,nicks,sev,con,jade eye currently.

 

[Eelzor]

I own 2 black ghost knifes at about 6 inches each - you will find they are worth the buy. I have created a black ghost knife profile on these forums right here -

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=50349

 

[BlueIce]

I own 2 black ghost knifes at about 6 inches each - you will find they are worth the buy. I have created a black ghost knife profile on these forums right here -

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=50349

Do you mind if I make a suggestion on the profile?

I completely diagree with them seldom being seen and being strictly nocturnal.
I have never owned a BGK that wasn't out swimming freely no matter the time of day or night.
The key to seeing your knife is making it feel comfortable and safe.This means dense planting in the back of the tank,some floating plant material,natural caves and crevices using rock and driftwood.
99% of the pics you have seen of my bgk have been taken during the day.

As well,I have always kept bgk in groups of 3 or more...when they are juvies I use a 55g,when they are larger I use a 90g.I have never had a bgk kill another bgk,and very seldom have even seen them chase another bgk.Usually I find my bgk resting in the same cave/crevices for long periods of time,they also eat side by side with absolutely no issues.

Regarding the botia,size must be kept in mind.I have had a blue botia kill a knife 2 inches larger then itself.
They do very well with large peaceful cichlids .



Regarding food... bgk love greens such as spinach,algae wafers and peas.They also eat whole fishworms,mealworms,waxworms and any other kind of worms ya get at the local bait shop.

Hope you don't mind the suggestions,the profile is very good..I just felt it needed these things mentioned in order to be complete.

 

[Eelzor]

Yeah, that was a year before I established a densley planted tank. After reading that, I too, kinda disagree with some of it. The only reason my bgk's don't hide is because of no caves and making them feel safer with plants. I am turned around about my discussion. But I am just saying that if you do supply a cave, usually they will hide in it - at least from what I have seen. A lot of them are different. One of mine always want to hide, the other is an active fish. Maybe you got active ones BlueIce - from your photos, yours seems pretty unique.