hi guys.im buying 1 BGK here and i want to know what other fish can be a posible tankmate for my BGK.and what type of food do they usaually eat?
BGK questions
- Thread starter Uniqua
- Start date
BGK are pretty good tank mates as long as it doesn't fit in their mouths. Usually, one per tank is the rule because they are territorial, but people have had some success with keeping multiple knives in their tanks. BGK love bloodworms and will accept most foods, but bloodworms is the food of choice for them, IMO.
BGK are peaceful fishes, they won't do good with agressive fishes. good tankmates for the bgk are the smaller species or bichirs (senegal bichir, delhezi etc.), spiny eels (tiretrack, peacock, fire etc.) or you could check my sig to get ideas.
mine is with angels and they get along great...when you first bring him home he is most likely small feed him frozen blood worms and frozen baby brine until he grows ...as he gets older he can eat pellets ,,,first start from the tiny pellets on up according to his mouth size...
I’ve raised several BGK’s over the years and have two that are a few years old each now…
I’ve found that Black Ghost Knives are not very aggressive… meaning they are not prone to start a fight…
Yet I’ve found Black Ghost Knives very capable fighters…
I’ve had BGK’s attack spawning Cichlids on many occasions eating the eggs/fry while fighting with both parents. I’ve never seen a Cichlid hurt a healthy BGK… but I also admit I don’t keep mine with Dovi or Midas…
But I do have a 10” BGK in a 75 gal with a 9” female Dempsey, 12” Male Oscar, a young Convict pair and a 7” female WC Trimac (the most impressive of a group of 4 female Wild Caught Trimacs)… There is some hostility between the Cichlids but everyone knows their place. The only action the BGK sees though is when he eats the Convict eggs/fry (which he has done the 3~4 times they have spawned in this set up).
I don’t think you guys give BGK the credit they deserve…
I’ve found that Black Ghost Knives are not very aggressive… meaning they are not prone to start a fight…
Yet I’ve found Black Ghost Knives very capable fighters…
I’ve had BGK’s attack spawning Cichlids on many occasions eating the eggs/fry while fighting with both parents. I’ve never seen a Cichlid hurt a healthy BGK… but I also admit I don’t keep mine with Dovi or Midas…
But I do have a 10” BGK in a 75 gal with a 9” female Dempsey, 12” Male Oscar, a young Convict pair and a 7” female WC Trimac (the most impressive of a group of 4 female Wild Caught Trimacs)… There is some hostility between the Cichlids but everyone knows their place. The only action the BGK sees though is when he eats the Convict eggs/fry (which he has done the 3~4 times they have spawned in this set up).
I don’t think you guys give BGK the credit they deserve…
My BGK will usually not even acknowledge the other fish unless they are in 'his' cave or when they try to 'share' his bloodworm. Even when he does want someone out of the way - it is usually a 'push' not a bite.
Make sure the tanks mates won't pick on him - they are delicate especially when they are small. Give him multiple hiding spots - and please - no clear plastic tubes - the BGK really do not like them - given any choice at all and they won't use them.
Make sure you place the food 'near' him as he will not come out looking for food until he feels safe in the tank. Many small BGK starve to death as they won't compete for food. Once he feels more secure and the feeding routine is established (left corner of the tank just before bedtime for example) you will see him waiting for you if you are a few minutes late.
There are really only 3 important things to a BGK:
1. good water
2. good food (frozen bloodworm is by far the fav)
3. hiding places where they can turn upside down and sleep - as only a BGK can.
I still target feed my BGK with a set of aquarium gardening tongs. This makes sure he gets a good feeding, I spend time with him and can check to make sure there are no problems, and it reduces the mess of frozen bloodworms being attacked by my Buenos Aires Tetras - they are really messy.
You can teach them to handfeed. I hesitate to put my hands in the water - I don't want to contaiminate the water ( I am also a smoker and don't want to have nicotine addicted fish
.
My BGK is now around 11 inches and was under 3 inches when I first bought him. He lives with several Danios, 4 Buenos Aires Tetras, 2 Black skirt tetras, and 4 bronze cories.
Good luck - they are seriously Cool Fish.
Make sure the tanks mates won't pick on him - they are delicate especially when they are small. Give him multiple hiding spots - and please - no clear plastic tubes - the BGK really do not like them - given any choice at all and they won't use them.
Make sure you place the food 'near' him as he will not come out looking for food until he feels safe in the tank. Many small BGK starve to death as they won't compete for food. Once he feels more secure and the feeding routine is established (left corner of the tank just before bedtime for example) you will see him waiting for you if you are a few minutes late.
There are really only 3 important things to a BGK:
1. good water
2. good food (frozen bloodworm is by far the fav)
3. hiding places where they can turn upside down and sleep - as only a BGK can.
I still target feed my BGK with a set of aquarium gardening tongs. This makes sure he gets a good feeding, I spend time with him and can check to make sure there are no problems, and it reduces the mess of frozen bloodworms being attacked by my Buenos Aires Tetras - they are really messy.
You can teach them to handfeed. I hesitate to put my hands in the water - I don't want to contaiminate the water ( I am also a smoker and don't want to have nicotine addicted fish
. My BGK is now around 11 inches and was under 3 inches when I first bought him. He lives with several Danios, 4 Buenos Aires Tetras, 2 Black skirt tetras, and 4 bronze cories.
Good luck - they are seriously Cool Fish.
My BGK is only 2'' and I have to say that I agree with the sticking to the same corner and time schedule when feeding, especially when small.
cmartin;1967741; said:
My rope fish and brochis cats eat way more eggs than the BGK. BGK will chase the cats out of his cave but not the rope fish. They like brine shrimp - you can "make" live ones in an artemia hatchery or buy frozen ones, and they are a good size for even small BGK. The biggest problem with aggression would be with other bottom dwellers (bichirs, eels, catfish), and especially with OTHER KNIFE FISH and other weakly electric fish because of their electric signalling. Many of us have found that our BGK's favorite food is sinking pellets or wafers.