BGK

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
First, welcome to MFK. Second, you're going to get a number of "use the search function" replies. Ok, BGK. Very shy, likes to hide and does not like bright light. Get a knife house or use a plastic tube/glass jar or lean a rock against the front glass. Their eyesight is very limited so they use electrical impulses to navigate. Don't put in with aggressive tank mates but don;t put in with anything too small either. Feed bloodworms, brine shrimp, sinking pellets when smaller, larger pieces as it grows. Does well in planted tank. Mine eats chunks of fish and shrimp now. Not overtly aggressive but capable of defending itself. Mine has gone from about six inches to about 10-11 in 10 months. Tank mates are senegals, angelfish, juruense cat, a mango pleco and one lonely lf rosy barb.
 
BGK are usually very passive. They just want to go about their business. Mine will push Cories out of his cave but has never hurt one.

They will hide until they feel safe, then you will see it more. For the first 2 weeks I wasn't sure it was still alive. He took up residence in a large castle with lots of hiding places. The only way I knew he was there was to catch glimpses of 'white' inside the castle. I put half a cube of frozen bloodworm in the castle everyday as he would not come out to eat. He soon learned that bloodworms were good and maybe it was safe to come out. Then he was everywhere - exploring - and sometimes it looks like he is just playing.

They are great fish but they need good water, good food, lots of places to get out of the light and out of the current, and some patience. My BGK greets me everytime I go to the tank - sometimes it is just to poke his head out for a minute and then back to sleep, but he always acknowledges me somehow.

He sleeps through water changes - just turns upside down in his log and sleeps. He will check out the python if it touches his tail, but it is just to check and then right back to sleep.

He was 3 inches when I got him a little over a year ago and he is now around 11 inches. He is by far my favorite. His name is "Shadow".

Good luck
 
I think it has to do with the way they are raised and how much they are fed.

Mine has been given frozen foods and some veggies - no live food since he was 3 inches long. I don't have any live bearers in the tank so he is not used to 'eating' other fish - I provide his food except for what he finds on the floor of the tank when the other fish spawn. He loves the eggs!

I also feed him regularly and well - none of my fish are skinny :D

I would not want to miss too many of his feedings or I am sure he would discover 'hunting'. He seems happy this way and I know his tank mates are.
 
You can even train them to be handfed too. In the wild they grew to 20 inches, but normally in an aquarium they can grow about 18 inches. Feed them meaty foods. My bgk's tankmates, just refer to my signature. Minimum tank size is 75g (adult size).
 
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