Uh Oh....

[Insomniac]

Hey everyone,

A couple of weeks ago I bought an "African Brown Knife" for my 80 gallon. It is very rocky and well planted, and he's right at home. I was frusturated, as he didn't match any of the African Brown Knife photos that I could find. He looked like a Black knife, but brown. I had no idea that there were Brown Ghost Knives until I found a picture on an obscure german fish club site. He is 8 inches long, and a good eater. He's being fed on brine shrimp, krill pellets, frozen bloodworms, and any cichlid pellets he finds along his way. Will I have to eventually upgrade to keep this fish, or is the 80 gallon alright? How long will it take for him to grow to the size in which I will have to upgrade him?

Thanks for your help

 

[Earthgirl]

When I went to buy my last bgk, the lfs wanted to sell me a brown knife. I didn't cause I like the black, anyways, they are the same as the bgk, so I think what ever you read about the black pertains to brown.

Someone prove me wrong if I have done my research wrong.......

 

[Fruitbat]

Actually, the Brown Ghost Knife Fish is Sternarchella schotti....which is NOT the same as the Black Ghost Knife (Apteronotus albifrons). They are both South American in origin but the Black Ghost Knife can reach up to 18 inches or so in size while the Brown Ghost Knife only reaches about 8 inches. Care is similar for both fish but the Black Ghost Knife will obviously eventually require a larger aquarium than the Brown Ghost Knife will.

-Joe

 

[Insomniac]

Actually, the Brown Ghost Knife Fish is Sternarchella schotti....which is NOT the same as the Black Ghost Knife (Apteronotus albifrons). They are both South American in origin but the Black Ghost Knife can reach up to 18 inches or so in size while the Brown Ghost Knife only reaches about 8 inches. Care is similar for both fish but the Black Ghost Knife will obviously eventually require a larger aquarium than the Brown Ghost Knife will.

-Joe

Oh good, I'm glad.

How big of a tank do Black GK's need when full grown? They would fight with a Brown GK, right?

 

[andywg]

BGKs can hit 20" fully grown (though are not the quickest of things to get there) so you have to be prepared for a large tank. Height will not be as important as depth. I would say a 48x18x18 as a BARE minimum, though would not feel happy with less than 60x24x18.

 

[Insomniac]

BGKs can hit 20" fully grown (though are not the quickest of things to get there) so you have to be prepared for a large tank. Height will not be as important as depth. I would say a 48x18x18 as a BARE minimum, though would not feel happy with less than 60x24x18.

I can't imagine that I'm not going to upgrade eventually, I am already dissatisfied with my 80 gallon and eyeing plans for an indoor pond...I think it's safe to assume that I will eventually have a larger tank. My tank is 50Lx18Dx20T at the moment...the BGK's at work are four inches, and my brownGK is 7 inches. Do you think the two would fight?

 

[Fishy412]

you dont have to upgrade. Brown Ghost knives get no where as big as a Black ghost knife. im sure theyre in the range of 7-11 inches but im leaning towards 7. you should be fine provided it is indeed a BROWN ghost knife and not a black one. 80 gallons is fine