african knife tank mates

[peef2]

hi, i have an african knifefish in a 55 gal tank. i was wondering what types of fish can work well with it. i was thinking gouramis, but i dont know if i should get the normal sized ones or the dwarf gouramis. any other suggestions of fish i can add?

thanks

 

[johnuskglass]

Are you talking about African Brown KNives? Gouramis' of all kinds should be fine - they get to be several inches. I can't see the knives mistaking them for food.

 

[peef2]

yea, african brown.

i'm thinking of getting dwarf ones since i read they are more passive. thanks for the reply.

what would be the smallest size fish that should be safe with the knife? like slightly larger than neon tetra size?

 

[benzjamin13]

ABK are pretty mellow and aren't as predatory. You can keep it with a lot of other fish. An 8" ABK should be safe with 3"-4" fish that are robust. Something like a 4" Kuhli Loach would look like a tasty worm, but a 3" Tatra would be fine.

 

[peef2]

thanks for the replys. i'm thinking of dwarf gouramis and congo tetras and maybe upsidedown catfish. think it would work?​

 

[benzjamin13]

That would be fine.

 

[syddakyd]

mine was actually getting harrassed by a dwarf gourami (not to the point of nipped fins or danger but there was chasing)


i currently keep it with skunk loaches . for a noctural fish, it's out as much as diurnal ones

 

[dbcb314]

You can keep X. nigri with anthing that it can't swallow with ease and isn't too aggressive.

Very peaceful fish, just predatory obviously. I have kept one with gouramis in the past.