black knife ghost fish

[EFCLad]

Hi guys, just a few quick questions!

Whats the min tank size you would put them in?

How long does it take for them to grow?

My fish shop reccomnds you buy three is this the case or are they hjust trying to make sure cash?

How big do they normally get?

Cheers Sam

 

[debiasir]

this link should help you out

BGK

 

[nc_nutcase]

What’s the min tank size you would put them in? link suggests 80 Gal and 24 inches deep (front to back).

How long does it take for them to grow? I’ve raised a few and found them to be slow growers (compared to the large Cichlids I’m used to). But the last one I’ve gotten has surprised me. He has put on almost an inch per month for the last 3 months.

My fish shop recommends you buy three is this the case or are they just trying to make sure cash? I’ve always heard the exact opposite. Although I’ve never tested this, I’ve been told that males will not tolerate other males, and females won’t tolerate other females. Since they are un-sexable, I’d suggest sticking with one. I have been told that in very large environments this rule can be bent (but not broken).

How big do they normally get? 24 inch in the wild, the link says rarely over 20 in captivity, the one I had for several years appeared to stop growing at around 10-12 inches.

 

[Final Dynazty]

You only have one. not three. they will mess eachother up with their sonar. stick with one.

 

[andywg]

Keeping multiple BGKs is open to some debate.

The general consensus on here is that you can't keep more than one or they will interfere with each other's electrical field.

Another theory is that the field is weak and so long as there is at least 3 (to balance out any possible aggression) they are fine. I beleive Blueice has 3 and has had no problems and there was someone else a while ago arguing that you can keep 3 as noone could give an example of an actual person they knew who had kept 3 or more and had had any trouble.

Andy

 

[pica_nuttalli]

i guess the answer to whether or not you should get 1 or 3 is related to what is the absolute largest tank you can provide for them? remember, if all goes well, you'll end up with three 2-foot-long fish; that's a pretty big tank. remember that these are horizontal fish, so you'll need a WIDE and LONG tank moreso than a tall tank.

if you can't manage a tank of 75g or more, you shouldn't get any.
if you can manage a tank of about 75-90g, you can definitely get one.
if you can manage a tank significantly larger than 90g, you can probably get 3. if you do discover problems, well, you've got a nice big tank to fill even further up.

its easiest in the long run to get the final tank for your fish. firstly, it'll save you money if you can only maintain a limited number of tanks. secondly, there are a lot of interesting fish that have shorter lifespans than the BGK so you can have a large community while you wait for everyone to grow up a little more. the fancier livebearers live for only 2-3 years and most barbs live 3-6 years (reaching a rather nice size at the end too). danios are also attractive but relatively short-lived, although i believe the giant danio is something of an exception to this (but also approaches 5+ inches in length!)

 

[BOD]

did ne one notice it says black knife ghost?

 

[troutfly]

Bod - I did notice that.

I have heard of people keeping two of them in the same tank without any problems, as long as there is enough room for them. I believe there are a few members here that have two or more in the same tank.

I have one that has grown an inch since buying it in April, he seems quite happy in my tank that is shared by congo tetras, glass cats, dwarf gouramis and 2 plecos. BGK are fish that will live for 10 to 15 yrs as long as the water perameters are fine.

These fish are great, if you have the room, I suggest getting one they can be very entertaining.

 

[andywg]

We bought our first today and once we upgrade the 85 gallon to the 150 gallon we will add two more. However, they are a fish that if you can keep them, I definately feel you should. A great fish.

On an aside, I was reading today that the family some knofefish come from (the electric eel and I believe the BGK) are often taxanomically linked to the sluriformes (that's mostly catfish to you and me). Just a strange bit of fishy trivia for you all (Though exactly where the fish species, genub (I think that is plural for genus...or is it geni? - my latin is aweful) and families are placed does depend in a number of cases on who's classifications you use).

Andy

 

[troutfly]

Andy - When you get the "other two" I would be carefull not to get ones that are smaller then the first one. They can become territorial and the smaller BGK can be subject to stress from being harrassed by the established BGK in the tank. When you do get the new ones, I would can the tank around so new territories have to be established by all of the fish, this will help eliminate the pecking order that maybe set in the tank. Also. I would be careful on the other choices of fish you put in with them, if you have too aggressive of tank mates, you will loose the BGK's, if they are too timmid, you will loose the other fish, also these fish can become large, so I would be mindful of the size of tank mates so you don't provide expensive food for the BGK. A 150 is a descent size tank, but I wouldn't push compatibility by put 3 of them in there, this could cause trouble in the future, I would stick with just 2 of them. I hope I my advise is helpful and I have come up with a neat idea how to feed them, here is a link to the pictures I posted. I took a cone worm feeder and siliconed the pieces together, allowed them to druy completely and mounted it about 6" from the bottom, my BGK likes it, and it is fun to watch it feed.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=92888&st=0&

Have fun and enjoy..........

 

[andywg]

I plan to be putting the other two in when I change the entirity of the larger fish from the 85 gal to the 150 gal (this is UK, so about 180 gal US - hence the three. Also I have heard that 2 are more likely to fight than three).

My aim is to get another two at the same size as this one (around 3-4 inches I think). Tank mates will include a school of bala sharks (currently 4, may add another, depends on final look of tank), A school of 5 Pim Pictus, a gibbi plec, an L027a plec and probably a catfish of the dorididae family (along the lines of Platydoras costatus. Therefore the smallest fish will be the Pictus which should become bulky enough to avoid becoming food.

That's a funky feeder, but feeding has not been a problem, my current one (named "Slinky" by the good lady) has taken a fond love of whole mussels and frozen bloodworm and on only his second day with us is swimming right in the open at feeding time pushing around the catfish in the tank. B)

Thanks for the advice though, especially about a settled BGK taking offence to "interlopers".

Andy

 

[troutfly]

I try to help when I can, good luck with the new tank, and enjoy.

I would like to pics of the new tank when you get it up and running.

 

[andywg]

The move is pencilled in for July 1 (providing the tank is ready and I have all the bits).

Pictures will certainly be taken.

 

[HotStuffGal]

Hey

My dad bought a black ghost knife fish. Quite the stunning fish! They grow rediclously fast and need quite the tank. Buying more than one would be a disaster in my opinion so if you are looking into buying one I would do just that, buy one.

Hope this helped!

 

[BlueIce]

Hey

My dad bought a black ghost knife fish. Quite the stunning fish! They grow rediclously fast and need quite the tank. Buying more than one would be a disaster in my opinion so if you are looking into buying one I would do just that, buy one.

Hope this helped!

Actually bgk grow quite slowly...there is the odd exception however.
How long have you had your bgk? Have you ever kept more then one?

Just wondering ...