Black Ghost Knife Fish

[Kieren_1992]

i brought one of these from my local shop, they said it should be fine in the tank i have and with the tank mates, thought they warn me it could possibly eat the tetras when fully grown. i have a gourami, 6 tetras, common pleco, 4 syno cats, and the tank is a aqua one AR-850, it has sand as substrate, and some plants and loads of bogwood for hinding, but all this little fish seems to be doing is hinding behide the heater or filter box, whats wrong and how can i make him be a little more active?

Charlie

 

[VaegaVic]

I'm afraid to tell you, you have been mis-sold by the LFS.
BGKF grow absolutely massive, and although they aren't active fish, they do have rather specialised needs.

http/www.theaquariumwiki.com/Apteronotus_albifrons

 

[shelaghfishface]

they are very shy fish, that tank wont be big enough for him either he will come out when he detects food , but as they use sonar ( i think thats what it is lol ) youd be right in thinking that he will eat your small fish if he gets a hint of them being close by
beautiful fish though

 

[the biffster]

they can grow up to 2 foot and i would say need a tank
over 200 litres

correct me if i am wrong

 

[minxfishy]

At least a 5ft tank needed and whilst small they wont eat smaller fish, however, as I found out with mine, that once they grow larger, they will eat smaller fish, even those they have been with for some time, so over night, you start to slowly lose some fish, no trace of them left.

 

[Kieren_1992]

Right okay Imm i thought they was a little more active, and didnt relise they would grow that big, i knew they got big, umm what to do,

I know im going to have to to rehome at some stage, but can i keep him till he gets a little bigger, girlfriend brought him for me *laughs* how fast are they are growing, i know they have special needs, i know they have to eat frozen food where as others eat flake.

 

[minxfishy]

Not overly fast growing, but you will need to rehome sooner rather than later to avoid any stunting. I would return it and tell them that your tank isnt large enough and swap for something more suitable to your set up. As Shelagh mentioned, they use electric pulses to navigate their way around, so moving ornaments etc can sometimes throw them, they also use that to see the other fish in the tank.

They are sensitive to water quality, so you will need to keep on top of water changes, sensitive to medication (should you ever need to use any). They like to have somewhere to hide out during the day, mine loves his cococnut, but some people use see thru tubes (so you actually see them) but something long, thin but large enough for him to fit into will be fine, mine isnt overly shy like some and feeds on cichlid pellets mainly, but loves fresh prawn, bloodworm, shrimp, cockle, mussel, catfish pellets and adores cucumber. They dont necessarily need live/frozen food, so long as you can get them onto regular food its much easier for you and better for them.

 

[arobinson1984]

Hi,

Just also to point out that the common plec will also massively outgrow the tank, they quite frequently reach 18" - 2ft and would require a 6ft tank for adulthood. Common plecs also grow fairly fast compared to some fish.


Andy

 

[Kieren_1992]

i do know the common will outgrow the tank i have someone on stand by when it gets larger, he has kept them before and have a very under stocked large tank, think its either 5 or 6th (really jealous lol) i asked him but he doesnt want the knife fish, well seems like back to the shop