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You know, I have a 7 inch black ghost knife in a 125 gallon tank. Its mouth is really big and I feed it sinking carnivore pellets. Small fish would be easily eaten. I keep it with severums, corys, and plecos.

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well i dont know the difference with african or black ghoss but i bought what i was told was a black ghost knife fish, its about 3 inches long and lives in a 5 foot tank with... 1 big angel.4 lg silver shark. 4 platy. 3 silver molly. 2 male red swordtails. 1 blue guorami, 1 gold guorami, 2 dwarf cobalt guorami, 3 bristlenose catfish, 1 gold sucking catfish, 2 clown loach, 3 neon tetra, 5 glass catfish... all living happy as can be and have been for about 4 months now

We keep the BGK's at work in several tanks, including with guppies. No problems; they are peaceful (at least when under five inches like ours are) and enjoy frozen foods. They like tight hiding spots. They can certainly be kept with other BGK's, as the Vancouver Aquarium Center has a gorgeous display of a community of them... All are healthy and fat and do not bother eachother. Other knives are anti social though.

I've read that they can eat other fish's eyes but that is the worst thing I've ever read about them, from magazines and books and such.

Being an electric fish they are VERY sensitive to nitrAtes. Frequent water changes are a must.

I have seen them housed happily in 75 g tanks, as they grow to 20" in the wild but grow slowly. They rarely reach full size in captivity.

My fave fishie...

I'm so adjective, I verb nouns!

The reason it probably hides is coz they are nocturnal and only come out at night, not because it is scared of the Oscars, it probably isnt scared of the Oscars but if it did something and annoyed the Oscars then the Oscars could easily turn on the BGK and kill it.

Oops thanks Perky, That would explain why the poor little bugger always seems to be hiding. Although i spend most of my time gazing at my tanks and haven't seen them picking on him at all but thanks for that i'll have to keep an eye on him till i get another heater for the other tank.

Angel, the worry in your tank would be the Oscars as they are quite aggresive and could rip the BGK apart

Thanks again I have been looking at some other fish I've given up on the BGK for now mabye some other time.

I haven't had my BGK for very long either but mine seems to hide in a hollow log all day too. At the moment (only temporary) i've got mine in a tank with 2 Salmon catfish, 1 Sailfin pleco, 4 Clown loaches and 2 oscars. Where i got my BGK from they assured me he would be fine with all of these. I tell you who does know a lot about them is "Rustyblade" hopefully she can get on here and give you all the information you need, i'll send her an email for you but she really is the one you need to speak to i've just sent her an email about mine.
Good luck with him any way.

also bgk have vary wide personalitys. ive seen some smaller ones that are intolerent predatory to smaller fish. but i have a 12" (give or take) BGK in my 150g with smaller fishes like small guppys, khulis and danios and havent seem it attack any of the smaller fishes it might eat a fry every now and then and eats ghost shrimps and what ever worm pops out of the gravel. but i had this BGK since it was less then 3 inches. so im assuming it got accustomed to smaller fishes. that and my tank has alot of plants and drift wood to conceal most fishes.

I was wondering if anyone has had any expeirence with this fish and what kind of fish go well with it. I've checked the compatible list but I was wondering if anyone has any other fish that go well with the Black Ghost I've also read that most fish will be ok as long as they are 1 inch. but I've also read that other fish need to be at least 4 inches. any help is welcome

African Knifefish aren't even related to this conversation at all. In fact, they are not even closely related to Black Ghosts in the least.

Basically all I'm gonna say is watch out for when it gets sick. Certain medications will kill the BGK. If it labels that it could be dangerous to fish like Mormyrids (Elephantnoses), chances are they are dangerous to electric knifefish too.

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

Maybe an Elephantnose as they are smaller and have a small mouth so that may work and/or a spiny eel of some kind would be cool as they also have small mouths (or most do)

Thanks for the inof I am planning on upgrading the tank as soon as I get the space for it I live in a upstairs apartment right now and I don't have the room for a larger tank at this point I'm pretty much looking for an exotic fish for the center of attention for the tank I love all the other fish just want something a little out of the ordinary to go with the tank.

i have kept an african knife fish in a large tank with many smaller community fish for 3+ years with no problems. it slept in a hollow log during the day, and hunted small ghost shrimp at night. I never observed it molesting other fish. while not as ornate as bg-knifefish, the africans are a little more adventurous and hardy.

it seemed to max out at 6". unfortunately, an extreme tempature fluctuation wiped out the majority of my fish last week, so i am not sure if that is the max length.

The knifefish, under optimum conditions, can reach 70-80cm

Black Ghost Knifefish reach 50cm max, not 70-80cm.
The reason one would be no good is the tank is small and would be a squeeze for the Black Ghost Knifefish and if you looked at the stock already, it involves Guppys, Danios, White Clouds and Ottos which would all be eaten by a 10cm Black Ghost Knifefish as when they sleep the Black Ghost Knifefish is on the prowl looking for easy prey.

With approx 280 litres, I assume your tank is atleast 4ft long? The knifefish, under optimum conditions, can reach 70-80cm and would need a bigger tank when they put on some size. This doesn't necessarily mean you can't cater for them though, just that you must be considerate of who will take it off your hands later. They must be kept as a single specimen as, although fairly 'OK' whilst juveniles, they are considered intolerant of their own kind. They like fairly quiet tanks and their nocturnal and carnivorous nature requires a tank with no small fish.

well they would be no good in your 75g