would it be ok to put an african brown knifefish in a community tank? the tank so far has 16 black skirt tetras, 1 angelfish, 1 swordtail. petsmart says no but it was also the same person who only knows how to clean the tank and that semi aggressive goes with semi agressive and etc..... not very knowledgable on interaction. the tank base is 18" by 30" and is 56 gallons.
african brown knife in community tank?
- Thread starter nitrofish1
- Start date
AKF have about as peaceful as you can get haha.
If they can't eat it (they are predators) they will leave it completely alone.
If they can't eat it (they are predators) they will leave it completely alone.
The Swordtail is the odd man out there because they like more cooler temps. African Knifes like a bit warmer water like Angelfish do. They get about 9" but are extrememly nocturnal. You probably wouldn't see him during the day (assuming you give him a place to hide). Bloodworms and small chunks of shrimp or mussel is the only thing I ever got mine to eat. They don't compete well for food so getting food to him without the other fish getting it 1st woudl be hard. Mine would only eat after the lights were out.
ok. yeah ill have to get him a hiding place. do they like tubing like the other knifefish do? and ill have to wait til i can get him some food. i dont think i have room for 3 of them...... but id like to add one. i have my heater set to about 80F, so it keeps it at least 78 to about 79F. and you guys are sure it wont pose a problem to my tetras? even as an adult?
few observations with mine... I had one for about 2 years back in the day, and the one I have now I have had for a year.
- They grow really really really slowly. I still haven't seen a picture of one at 9 inches. You will probably get one to about 6, and its growth will slow down even more. The tetras that I am thinking of (I am not a tetra expert) should be fine
- Mine right now will eat shrimp, blood worms, and black worms. But I have never seriously tried to get it to eat anything else as I get black worms for free so that is my main food. The one I had years ago would eat flake food from the top of the tank. If in doubt, ask the pet store to feed that tank and see if it comes up to eat. most petstores I know only feed flakes, so if it comes up to eat your good.
- I have kept them from as low as 76* to as high as 85ish and they were fine both times.
- My two would come out to food instantly... they were not slow eaters at all. I kept hte first one with some cichlids (sevs, angels, a blood parrot) and he would get their just as fast they they would. The one I have now will come out as fast as my leopard ctenopoma and beats teh bichirs to the food.
- They are a shy fish... but mine have always come out during the day once they got really comfortable. The first one I had was out constantly. He had a cave he would retreat to if he felt threatened, but when he wasn't he was hanging outside the cave. The one I have now will come out of his cave once he feels comfortable, meaning if I get up and move aroudn he will hide. If I sit down and be somewhat still (I don't have to be a statue but I can't be dancing around) he will comeout and hang out in the middle of the tank. One thing you should do is NOT FEED WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE OFF. They WILL come out to get food when the lights are on. A fish won't starve itself because it doesn't like lights. This will get him used to the lights, and also show him that the lights aren't evil and they don't equal death.
- I have always just stacked rocks as caves. mine also likes to hide under a large fake plant I have. I have never used pvc pipe because its ugly as hell
- They grow really really really slowly. I still haven't seen a picture of one at 9 inches. You will probably get one to about 6, and its growth will slow down even more. The tetras that I am thinking of (I am not a tetra expert) should be fine
- Mine right now will eat shrimp, blood worms, and black worms. But I have never seriously tried to get it to eat anything else as I get black worms for free so that is my main food. The one I had years ago would eat flake food from the top of the tank. If in doubt, ask the pet store to feed that tank and see if it comes up to eat. most petstores I know only feed flakes, so if it comes up to eat your good.
- I have kept them from as low as 76* to as high as 85ish and they were fine both times.
- My two would come out to food instantly... they were not slow eaters at all. I kept hte first one with some cichlids (sevs, angels, a blood parrot) and he would get their just as fast they they would. The one I have now will come out as fast as my leopard ctenopoma and beats teh bichirs to the food.
- They are a shy fish... but mine have always come out during the day once they got really comfortable. The first one I had was out constantly. He had a cave he would retreat to if he felt threatened, but when he wasn't he was hanging outside the cave. The one I have now will come out of his cave once he feels comfortable, meaning if I get up and move aroudn he will hide. If I sit down and be somewhat still (I don't have to be a statue but I can't be dancing around) he will comeout and hang out in the middle of the tank. One thing you should do is NOT FEED WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE OFF. They WILL come out to get food when the lights are on. A fish won't starve itself because it doesn't like lights. This will get him used to the lights, and also show him that the lights aren't evil and they don't equal death.
- I have always just stacked rocks as caves. mine also likes to hide under a large fake plant I have. I have never used pvc pipe because its ugly as hell
Mine was 5" when I got him and grew to 7" in just 4 months! I had no idea they were slow-growers. I lost mine after 4 months (long story) and it made me just sick.
They sleep vertical nose-down. I had a tall pot with holes in it that I put on its end and mine slept in that. I still want another one and am considering one for my Discus tank. Strange we had such different experiences. Mine was in the loft/bedroom in a red lit tank.
They're nocturnal fish-you're supposed to feed nocturnal fish after lights out. We have to cater to their schedule if we keep a certain kind of fish (in my opinion).
They sleep vertical nose-down. I had a tall pot with holes in it that I put on its end and mine slept in that. I still want another one and am considering one for my Discus tank. Strange we had such different experiences. Mine was in the loft/bedroom in a red lit tank.
They're nocturnal fish-you're supposed to feed nocturnal fish after lights out. We have to cater to their schedule if we keep a certain kind of fish (in my opinion).
ok. thats good information to know. my lfs has some that are about between 2 and 4 inches. i dont think theyd be capable at that size to eat a 2 inch black skirt tetra. i have some caves in my tank but the are onraments. my tetras go thru them sometimes but i doubt there would be a problem. im gonna get some as long as they arent a problem for my tetras. but i am going to my other lfs, which i like to buy from most of the time because they are very knowledgeable and have the best selection in the area. ill ask him tonight to get a third or fourth opinion. ill post some pictures of my ornaments so you can judge them (see if theyd like them).
That last one he might hide in. They (IME) like to be in "shade" or "covered" from head to tail. The black skirts my brother had at one point were pretty tall from memory so they "should" be ok. If in doubt get the smaller akf and it will be fine for sure.
Ksane: I have never seen my african knife sleep nose down lol. of course, I dont' think I have ever seen one "sleep" either.
IMO, you feed when you want to feed. you had such a shy fish because it had no reason to not be shy. Why come out in the light and during the day if it can stay in darkness and still get fed? It doesn't hurt to be fed during the day. In fact, it gives them more confidence and they lead a healthier life
(ok i made that up hahahahhaa)
Ksane: I have never seen my african knife sleep nose down lol. of course, I dont' think I have ever seen one "sleep" either.
IMO, you feed when you want to feed. you had such a shy fish because it had no reason to not be shy. Why come out in the light and during the day if it can stay in darkness and still get fed? It doesn't hurt to be fed during the day. In fact, it gives them more confidence and they lead a healthier life
(ok i made that up hahahahhaa)