African Knife killing other Knife tankmates

[screaminleeman]

Not a fluke anymore.

I have failed a third time to keep a BGK with an ABK. The African Knife is listed as non-agressive, and has clearly staked out his Mountain ornament as home sweet home. There are numerous other ornamental hide aways in the 55 that are not claimed by other tank inhabitants. I have had absolute zero aggression by the African Knife toward any other non-knife tankmates, which have included tiny Kuhli Loaches (both banded & black), Dojo Loaches, (Small) Green Severum, Small Senegal Bichir, Green Tiger Barbs and even recently a 4" Blue Diamond Discus.

In every case the agression was immediate, extremely intense and terminal to the BGK's. I even tried a glass knife thinking it a more similar species with the exact same result. What's up with that?

 

[KYeasting]

I've read from countless sources that keeping multiple knives in a small tank will lead to aggression. In my opinion I wouldn't try keeping two knives in a 55 unless you cram it full of hiding spaces. That's just my opinion based on reading. I was interested in getting other knives after picking up my first knife and I backed away from the idea after reading some info on them.

 

[nitrofish1]

they are aggressive..... i started out with three ABK, two would not eat, the smallest one ended up picking them off withing the next two days.

a few months later, i purchased a larger ABK and put him in, aggression was immediately noted. this ABK ate however, but several days later was dead because of the smallest one (who is still the first original survivor).

I still own the smallest knife, and wouldnt dare add another knifefish, which was a big mistake, the thing never comes out, and i shouldve went with a BGK instead. my ABK has grown very little, to almost unnoticeable length gain of probably around .5".

If possible, id take out the ABK, and put in a new BGK if i were you. the BGK likes to be out in the open. the only reason my knife comes out on an occasional basis (after a year of him being in the tank), is that the tank has become less crowded.

Overall, this little sucker is aggressive. it wont be aggressive to any other non-knife tankmates, but it will be towards knifefish tankmates. The only time my knifefish shows aggression is when my pleco is dominating his PVC tube home, and he cant fit in.

Go with a BGK

I should also mention that the only time i didnt notice aggression for at least a span of a few hours, is if you rearrange the decor in the tank. but this will not stop your ABK from killing your other knifefish.

 

[syddakyd]

i keep 10 african browns with 2 south american brown ghosts.


after your first fail you should of learned right then and there

 

[MeiTnerium109]

I have two knifes (ABK and glass) and an elephant nose in a 46 and have never had any aggression.

Your knifes are either aggressive by chance, or you have a faulty habitat.

 

[nitrofish1]

i keep 10 african browns with 2 south american brown ghosts.


after your first fail you should of learned right then and there

you prolly have so many of them that the aggression is really spread out.

when i visited the shedd aquarium in chicago, they had ABK's in a display, and they looked like even they picked at each other, they all had sores on their bodies.

 

[syddakyd]

^i didnt add them all at once. even when there were just a few...they always hung out

 

[benzjamin13]

Even though the generalization of these Knives are pretty docile, it all boils down to individual personalities. I think you're rearranging your decor to create new territories when you add any new fish.

 

[phillydog1958]

i think he's just got one very tempermental fish

 

[nitrofish1]

i think he's just got one very tempermental fish

that be true. and he was the smallest one out of all of them. weird