The Behaviour Of Black Ghost Knifefish

[Fastblur]

I was at my local fish shop the other day and was just browsing round the tanks. I saw a tank with several of these astonishingly cool looking fish. It's the only place nearby that stocks them and I was seriously considering buying one. I did however notice that they were behaving a bit oddly. Some were swimming or at least floating every which way as opposed to the usual fishy practice of vertical alignment. Secondly some others were just sort of lying very still on the bottom of the tank. This had me thinking ah, dead fish in the tank, avoid. I asked about this, the owner said they were 'sleeping' admittedly they did perk up when a net was dunked in to retrieve some plant detritus.
So yah, is that normal? As I'd like to get one. I know from the fishy index that they can grow to 20+ inches but that's not too worrying at the moment. Are there any other considerations for a prospective keeper of these things?

 

[Neal]

Yes that is normal behaviour from what i've examined my brothers do, they need a big tank though of about 55 Gallons minimum i'd say. They are very interesting fish but are nocturnal, but my brothers isn't that shy and does come out through the day, they really do enjoy a cave aswell. My brothers shares a cave with an adult BN plec and they are the only things allowed in!
HTH,
Neal

 

[Fastblur]

Yes that is normal behaviour from what i've examined my brothers do, they need a big tank though of about 55 Gallons minimum i'd say. They are very interesting fish but are nocturnal, but my brothers isn't that shy and does come out through the day, they really do enjoy a cave aswell. My brothers shares a cave with an adult BN plec and they are the only things allowed in!
HTH,
Neal

So starting one off in a 35L tank is not a good idea? The shop's ones were about 3.5" long. I really don't want to dunk some prosepective monster into my tank.
Still glad to know that's pretty normal behaviour for them. As my first thought on seeing a motionless fish on the bottom is 'another bites the substrate.'

 

[Fella]

a 35l tank for a black ghostknife is too small for sure. They're inflexible, meaning they need large tank requirements.

If you want to read some really cool stuff on BGKs, go to google, type in "Knife fish +neuroscience" and check out some of the interesting scientific papers on them.

They're great fish, just not suited for small tanks.

 

[Fastblur]

Ah that's why they're so familiar, I've seen them in newscientist I think.
I do believe I may wait a while and get a larger tank and see what I can do. These things are rather nice.

 

[Fella]

Ah that's why they're so familiar, I've seen them in newscientist I think.
I do believe I may wait a while and get a larger tank and see what I can do. These things are rather nice.

I think there is an african ghost knife which stays at a friendler 6" in captivity and exhibits very similar behaviour. Take a look at those guys, and see what you think. They still wouldn't be suitable for a 35l though, but make for better pets if you have a smaller tank. Check out the oddballs forum for lots of posts on different knife fish

 

[Dorkhedeos]

that would be okay if you could get a 55 gallon about 3 months from now. if you arent sure that you can do that, i suggest you not get the bgk

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Ah that's why they're so familiar, I've seen them in newscientist I think.
I do believe I may wait a while and get a larger tank and see what I can do. These things are rather nice.

I think there is an african ghost knife which stays at a friendler 6" in captivity and exhibits very similar behaviour. Take a look at those guys, and see what you think. They still wouldn't be suitable for a 35l though, but make for better pets if you have a smaller tank. Check out the oddballs forum for lots of posts on different knife fish

yeah I was gonna say that, brown african ghost knife or something like that. Never kept them so can't offer any advice but could watch them for hrs! They're well cool fish

 

[Neal]

While we are on the topic, does anyone know the minimum size tank requirements for the african brown knife?
Thanks,
Neal

 

[zugwang]

a 35l tank for a black ghostknife is too small for sure. They're inflexible, meaning they need large tank requirements.

Are you sure about them being inflexible? my 10 inch BGK can turn around in a 3 inch wide cave

 

[ringham]

I keep my BGK in a 96 UK gal tank (that is pretty large for one though) and a 35gal will be fine untill it reaches around 7" then it will be very cramped. A 55 UK gal is about minimum for a 15" BGK, not foregetting that they do grow up to about 18".

I have kept an ABK before and have found them to be interesting if you have never had a BGK before. In comparison they are boring to the BGK. They are a LOT smaller than a BGK though. I wouldn't go for one myself.

 

[HendrixTheOscar]

I'm going to have a go on here seen as no one answered my questions about my BKG when i asked on my own thread.

Anyway here goes....

My 10" BKG stays under the bogwood all the bloody time and will only come out when it's pitch black or when i'm asleep which doesn't make for the most exciting of pets. i just wondered if anyone had any hints or tips other than completely removing the bogwood to get the little bugger to come out.

She's a stubborn one. Any help appreciated. Cheers dudes, Pete

 

[Anthony!]

I'm going to have a go on here seen as no one answered my questions about my BKG when i asked on my own thread.

Anyway here goes....

My 10" BKG stays under the bogwood all the bloody time and will only come out when it's pitch black or when i'm asleep which doesn't make for the most exciting of pets. i just wondered if anyone had any hints or tips other than completely removing the bogwood to get the little bugger to come out.

She's a stubborn one. Any help appreciated. Cheers dudes, Pete

You should just try to feed it during the day. When I bought mine, I just stopped feeding it at night. I fed him in the morning and afternoon like all my other fish, and he perked up in about two weeks. Now he just cruises around the tank during the day. They're amazing to watch!

 

[bunjiweb]

After observing my Black Ghost Knife in my 6x2x2, it is my opinion that they need a tank of at least 100Gallons, 4x2x2 or bigger.

Mine is extremely active and zooms up and down the tank all day on the look out for food. Considering they can get to 18" I wouldnt feel comfortable keepign it in a tank under 4x18x18" at all, certainly nothing along the lines of a 35L tank that would be incredibly cruel.

Ben

 

[pica_nuttalli]

I keep my BGK in a 96 UK gal tank (that is pretty large for one though) and a 35gal will be fine untill it reaches around 7" then it will be very cramped. A 55 UK gal is about minimum for a 15" BGK, not foregetting that they do grow up to about 18".

however, the tank in question is 35 liters, which is about 9 US gallons (somewhere in the vicinity of 7 UK gallons)