Ghost Knifes

[Joel]

How are these fish? I want one, but dont know much about them. Anything I must know? anyone had problems with them? what makes them so hard to take care of? thanks

- Joel

 

[Teelie]

They get big, they're sensitive to electric fields other fish and animals give off, they need hiding places and will eat smaller fish for a starter. Usually more experienced fish keepers should try to keep them. Do a lot of research on them as well so you know what you're getting into.

 

[CFC]

Ghost knives are peacefull nocturnal fish that can grow to about 20 inches so will require a minimum of a 75 gallon tank when full grown, although they grow quite slowly so tanks can be upgraded as they grow.
Like other knife fishes they are sensative to water quallity so should only be added to a mature cycled tank, efforts should be taken to keep the nitrates below 50ppm at all times.
They have a suprisingly large mouth and should only be kept with other large peacefull fish as fish under 4 inches may eventually be eaten, while small they can be fed on live and frozen foods like bloodworm with larger foods like pieces of fish, shrimp and mussel being offered once the BGK is over 6 inches.
As they are nocturnal fish you should supply a cave or tube that is large enough for the fish to hide in during the day and investing in a "moonlight" effect tube will help with evening viewing.
BGK have a small electrical organ which is used to locate food and guide the fish around in the dark, for this reason they should not be kept together or with other electrical fish like elephant nose unless the tank is very large so the fishes electrical fields do not interfear with each other, if keeping more than one you will need 100 gallons per fish.

 

[Joel]

Darn that sucks. I wanted to add one to my 50 gallon. Im guessing thats not going to work

 

[DannyBoy17]

if keeping more than one you will need 100 gallons per fish.

Really? You see them at the pet store in tanks of about 50 gallons, with like 15-20 other Ghosts. How do they pull that off?

DB

 

[CFC]

Same way as they keep 20 Midas Cichlids or any other incompatable fish together, the situation is temporary and they are so crowded that there is no room for aggression. These conditions are far from ideal and should not replicated in the home aquarium.

 

[Teelie]

That is about the only time it's acceptable IMO and only out of necessity. Ghosts are very cool fish but people see them packed in aquarium stores and think it's okay to do at home. Slightly off topic though, I saw a foot long Clown Knife yesterday. It was in a 100 gallon tank and looked great though I only saw it's tail. Just makes me wish I had a bigger tank all that much more.

 

[Joel]

I read some more and they can live in 50 gallon tanks, so Im defenently getting one. I saw them at petsmart for $20. Ive wanted one of these for about 5 years but never got to it.

 

[offutt_chris]

im probably going to get some people to tell me that I am completely stupid for doing this, but that comes with life i guess. haha. i also have a ghost knife that i picked up from PetsMart. but fortunatly mine was only like 8 dollars. but he his housed with my cichlids and a couple of other eels. they are very knocturnal as mentioned before. and are very peaceful. they do like to hide out for most part of the day, but if you have a black light for your tank it is interesting to watch them at night. about the point that was made about they will eat smaller fish, i dont disagree with this, but i also do not agree with it completely. as the one i have has not ate any of my small juvenial cichlids, i do not know if he will once he gets larger. i think that is all i have to say for now.

 

[simonas]

I've got to say that Black Ghosts are one of the easiest fish to keep. Feed them properly and keep them in a planted tank with hidey spaces and they are happy as larry. Oh and avoid boisterous fish. Beautiful; graceful fish that are one of my favourites

 

[ghostknife]

I have had my Black ghost for quite a long (i know have a brown ghost as well!) I had to hand feed mine because otherwise my polypterus got to the food first.