Black Ghost Knifefish

[OoHeatheroO]

I'm getting a 75 gallon tank next week and once its setup i'll be getting a BGK. What tank mates can I put with them? Do they need special lighting requirements? What do you feed them? What temp do they like? Thanks

Heather

 

[Black_Ghost_Guy]

Good tankmates would be anything that would not bully it, and anything too large for it to eat. No special lighting requirements (these fish are virtually blind) are needed, but be sure to have your tank cycled before introducing it. Also, you will eventually need to upgrade, as these fish can grow in excess of 2' in length (though they grow VERY slowly).

 

[OoHeatheroO]

Anything that would or would NOT bully it?
What large fish would you reccomend?

 

[Black_Ghost_Guy]

Oops, grammar error... Yes, anything that would NOT bully it. Good tankmates would be peaceful larger catfish, bichirs, spiny eels, gars, south american lungfish, and some species of arowana (among other things).

 

[Joel]

Once I get mine, I was planning on keeping it in a community tank of angelfish, platties, Gouramis and others.

 

[Nyc]

Thanks so much for all your help

Other than a larger catfish..what medium level fish could i put in there?

 

[Dwarfs]

Ctenopoma acutirostre? 8" peaceful ambush anabantoid

You like cichlids so you can probably get a sev or something like that

 

[isu_guy]

I'd almost say that for special lighting requirements I would say a moonlight system. This being for you, not the fish. Mine hides all day long in his cave, then comes out once the lights go out. Although mine isn't too skittish of a mild amount of lights (like some from the room) He prefers to just get his food then stay in the cave until all the lights go out.

I made a light system by hooking up some blue leds. He isn't bothered by this and after the lights go out in a little while my eyes can adjust to the light and I can watch him fly around the tank scavenging for stray bloodworms etc.


awesome fish.

Some people have had success keeping these with less agressive new world cichlids. After I move and set up my new tank I am thinking about keyholes with my BGK.

 

[Black_Ghost_Guy]

Yes, moonlights would be very cool. I might have to setup some myself. As for the Ctenopoma dwarfs, it would be a good choice (accept for when the BGK is larger), though they take quite long time to grow that large if bought at a small size. Bichirs should be great, as well as the smaller, more peaceful snakeheads (though dwarf snakeheads or rainbow snakeheads could also become expensive feeders for a large BGK). Other BGK could also work well, but be sure to have a large tank to house two 2' long fish. Clown knives could work, as well as a smaller gar (Lepisosteus platostomus), fire spiny eel, tire track spiny eel, or some medium sized cichlids (though be sure to get peaceful ones such as firemouths, severums, uarus, or discus).

 

[BlueIce]

I currently own 3 BGK ,largest over 11 inches.
I house them with sev,nick,con,jade eye and rainbows.

No special lighting...my BGK were of course shy during the day at first,but it only takes a few weeks of making them comfortable before they are out and about at all hours of the day.

To make them comfy...
lots of plants,some floating...lots of rock and driftwood to provide natural hiding places...and of course never feed at night..only feed during the day.In no time at all your BGK will be feeding right along side your other fish ,during the day.


feed-

spinach
krill
shrimp
cichlid pellets (floating and sinking)
algae wafers
peas
crab
lobster
bloodworms

 

[pica_nuttalli]

I currently own 3 BGK ,largest over 11 inches.
I house them with sev,nick,con,jade eye and rainbows

really? how interesting; i've always heard that 2 was too many... how long have you been keeping them? (heh, must be a while to have an 11-incher)

 

[BlueIce]

I currently own 3 BGK ,largest over 11 inches.
I house them with sev,nick,con,jade eye and rainbows

really? how interesting; i've always heard that 2 was too many... how long have you been keeping them? (heh, must be a while to have an 11-incher)

2 is too few...3 spreads whatever aggression may arise...
they've been together going on 3 yrs...

 

[ghostknife]

Mine lives with:
-3 bichirs
-1 spiny eel
-1 syno
-1 purple spotted gudeon
-1 plec
-1 reedfish

I used to have in a tank containing large community fish eg. rainbows but he out grew the tank so i got him a new tank.