BGK with african cichlids

[0M39A]

Hi everyone,

I currently have a 3-4" BGK in a 25gal tropical community tank (stocked with the following:
5x glass catfish
1x featherfin catfish
1x kribensis
1x pakistani loach
4x kuhli loach
2x black widow tetras)

I've only just gotten into the fish hobby, my partner has been into them for a while now, but has lost a lot of fish along the way due to negligence, which lead me to start doing some research as to why, and now i love the darn things

anyway, the BGK was an impulse purchase on her behalf, not knowing how big the end up growing. He's fairly happy at the moment, but will soon outgrow his current tank. Ive also got a 4x2x2 african rift lake tank set up that is currently stocked with the following
4x maingano (melanochromis cyaneorhabdos)
3x zebra long pelvic (psuedotropheus sp.)
3x electric yellow (Labidochromis caeruleus)
2x red empress (Protomelas Taeniolatus)
1x Maylandia lombardoi
1x callochromis macrops ndole bay
1x synodontis occelifer

most of the fish are still juvies at the moment.

water parameters are:
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: <10
PH: 8.0
GH: 300ppm
KH: 200ppm

what are peoples thoughts on putting the BGK in with the africans? I would hate to have to get rid of him, as he has a great personality and loves to come out and play during the daylight. The problem is he is starting to get a bit nippy and prey on other fish at night (lost a glowlight tetra to him recently, and he bit the tails in half of two others. have them in a 10gal tank by themselves to recover at the moment).

Any thoughts/comments are appreciated

 

[aclockworkorange]

Black Ghost Knives are predators of small fish, so they are just doing as nature intends them to do, as you found out the hard way.
I would NOT recommend mixing them with african cichlids. I would recommend you get another large tank if you want to keep him, 120 gallon minimum. Focus on keeping larger fish in the tank from south america, or fish that prefer similar water parameters.

 

[MeiTnerium109]

Focus on keeping larger fish in the tank from south america, or fish that prefer similar water parameters.

Water parameters shouldn't be a big deal, as long as you make sure that when you put the BGK in it isn't undergoing a huge pH change. My brother's had a mixed South-American/African cichlid tank that's been going fine for about a year now.

I think your main issue is aggression. Will your cichlids kill your BGK? Wait until your BGK is a decent size bigger than your cichlids, then put it in.

 

[0M39A]

Thanks for the replies so far guys.

As much as I would love to get a new big tank, that's simply not on the cards in the foreseeable future

I thought that the water should be ok for the BGK. not ideal obviously. Aggression was more what I was wondering about. Obviously africans are agressive, but i thought BGK's were able to hold their own fairly well. Also being nocturnal may help out a bit.

 

[aclockworkorange]

They can't really swim that well to avoid aggression. And IMO, your ph/kh/gh is too high for it to be comfortable. You could do it, but I just don't recommend it.

 

[rideit6578]

before worrying about where the BGK is going to end up....the pakastani's might get nipped at and your kuhli loaches are going to be gone.