Black Knifefish

[nortonmad213]

i have a 3 ft 170l tank which is currently cycling and was wondering if this fish would be suitable if only for a short time?
thanks in advance

 

[Ch4rlie]

I do not know very much about BGK am afraid, but a truly beautiful fish!
But am aware they can grow pretty large and probably will need a tank bigger than yours eventually.
 
This link might help a little bit....
 
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/50349-black-ghost-knife/

 

[nortonmad213]

yea i have seen that they can grow up to a foot and at best foot and a half,
i was just wondering if i could see one through childhood maybe.
i'll give your post a look thanks a lot

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Black Ghost Knife? Try 50cm guaranteed within two years, they are quick growers if given proper care.
 
They do not have flexible bodies to help turn corners, so you are looking at a 10x4x4 foot tank long term i.e. most people in the hobby should never keep these wonderful fish.
 
African Brown Knife Fish are much more suitable for the hobby, reaching ~20cm as adults, fine for a 4-foot ~240l for life.

 

[nortonmad213]

ok thanks a lot,
do you think the african would be ok in mine?
its 3x2x1.5 ft

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

ok thanks a lot,
do you think the african would be ok in mine?
its 3x2x1.5 ft

Not long term, no, as I said they need at least a 4-foot tank and carefully chosen tankmates (big enough not to be "live lunch", not too zippy to spook them, not greedy feeders to outcompete them at meal time).
 
I purchased my one back in March at ~12cm SL, it lived with my other African oddball predators (Leoprad Bushfish, African Butterfly, half grown Ornate Bagrid) in my 120x30x37cm 140l for the summer and the whole group have been moved into my ~181x44x40cm after a bit of "fish juggling" where they are all much happier. The Knife has grown maybe 3cm in just ~8months, the shop took it in at ~5cm and once it settled in, it reached ~12cm in less than 6 months.

 

[nortonmad213]

ok thanks a lot,
after what you have said i'm not going to
thanks for warning me away as i cant get a bigger tank yet and id be sad to see it go once it grows up
once i move i'll get a wall to wall made so i can have one

 

[Ch4rlie]

That sounds to be the best course of action

Glad to see you are researching and asking advice before going any further.

Good on you

 

[nortonmad213]

well as nice as they look i get attached too easily
so i couldn't care for them properly.
thanks for all your help

 

[Tongue_Flicker]

Oh there's a topic like this. Good thing, i'm also weighin down on my options for getting a new fish and this happens to be in my option.

 

[nortonmad213]

in short, get a huge tank