Combination Cichlids & knifefish

[Matt_B]

Hi all,
Just wondering if there are any cichlids that would live in a tank with knife fish, if so can you please specify what type. I am looking to keep them in a 36x12x18 inch tank could you please also tell me if this is suitable.

 

[freddyk]

African Knife Fish?

While there are technically some cichlids that would work (particularly those from the rivers of west Africa), but your tank is not nearly big enough to get away with it. The Knife grows as large as a foot, and once you factor in cover and swimming space for it there's no room left for cichlids to establish territory, resulting in agression and/or a lack of space for the cichlids to function at a natural level.

 

[Matt_B]

erm i was thinking of ghost knife fish?

 

[freddyk]

You mean this one. It's even bigger.

 

[Matt_B]

o right thx mate I just saw some type of knife fish in my local aquarist, but they were only like 2-3 inches but they wernt the ones from that link, the ones i saw were all black all over.

 

[mamafish68]

knife fish grow huge, they attack at night usualy and some often go blind so their even more of a threat to other tank mates hunting blind.. what about ditching the thought of a knife fish all together and going for something else until you've had a lot of expierence with housing/caring for fish?

 

[OohFeeshy]

Brown knives are very cute, cheaper than black knives too and smaller growing. Mine is generally very friendly, comes out at feeding time or whenever I go past, otherwise he lives in a hole in the rocks and doesn't bother anybody.

 

[mike_nofx]

Angels can go with Black Ghost Knifes. Theyre prob one of the only cichlids. Any othere would probably be too agressive

But minimum tank size for 1 Black Ghost Knife would be 4'x2'x2'.
I currently have 2 in a tank that size, which i know is not reccomended, but i didnt know when i bought them (noob-ness at the time).

I had em both from about 1.5-2" long and have had them for maybe 6-7 months, now ones's 4" and the other 5.5". I may have to get rid of 1 BGK if they get too big or agressive. At the moment they are fine, very peaceful, only come out at night or when theres food.

I keep mine with angels, Silver Dollars and bristlenose cats. I have previously had them with Clown loaches.
I have had no problems with any of these.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

SamUK has one in with an Oscar and some other big(ish) chiclids I think. But thats in a massive tank, IMO that tank is nowhere near big enough, lovely fish though, I want one too!!