Ghost Knife Peaceful Community

[v320]

Hello,

I'm new here, and wanted to say I’m impressed with the dedication and experience I’ve seen on some of these posts…

I have many years of experience with salt water, but will be trying my first 55g freshwater.... I think I will be starting off with plastic plants because of one/some of the fish listed below (I do have an empty 29g that I might use for a planted tank as a trial – but that is another thread).

I wanted to try a ghost knife fish, and wanted to know if this list would be safe for all involved. I've searched the forum, and it seems I might be barking up the wrong tree with size compatibility, but I thought I'd ask you experience FW folks, thanks for your time!

Here is the list I was considering... if something seems incompatible, please let me know if it’s a size issue or something else, thank you.

- 1 ghost knife
- a few clown loaches/yo yo loaches (Ive seen friends that have had some serious snail issues)
- perhaps a few silver dollars
- or a few glass fish (~5-6) - the longer type
- or a few rainbow fish
- or a school of rummy nose (not sure if they are fast enough to stay out of the ghost's mouth)
- or a school of bala sharks (might be too big)
- a few angel fish
- one of the smaller plecos
- a petrocola (sp) cat fish
- a red tail shark (but I think he might cause issues with some of the fish above – so it is definitely not a must)

As you can probably tell, I'd like at least one group of schooling/shoaling fish if possible, but the tank size might be a limitation here....
Obviously, this is a list in progress... so I will try to find a happy balance with fish vs size of tank... I just need to know which will work before making my final choice, thank you.

Lastly, I'd love to hear some general suggestions from you experienced ghost knife people – perhaps you have some options I have not thought of?!

 

[apisto]

anything bigger than a neon tends to be too big for a black ghost knife fish. I keep rummy noses with mine and the knife fish doesn't eat them. However, a 55 gal is IMO too small for a black ghost.

As for the fish you consider:
-clown loaches grow too big, yoyo's are OK
-silver dollars need more room to swim and if you ever consider live plants you'll have to get rid of them
-glass fish, I am speculating here that you are referring to glass catfish. They are fine in a community tank but prefer a small shoal.
-rummy noses are fine
-rainbow fish are fine. Just don't keep threadfin rainbows with angels. The angels might consider them a food item
-bala sharks will grow too big considering that you probably want to consider a shoal. Personally, I think they are boring fish and really don't offer anything.
-angels are fine but make sure that you keep nothing too small, they'll eat it. You might get issue in your tank if a pair forms and they start breeding
-as for a smaller pleco, I suggest L134
-Peckolitas are OK too
-red tail shark: no go zone. Too big, too aggressive

 

[benzjamin13]

A school of Rummynose will eventually be Black Ghost Knife food. Bala Sharks would be big. You can probably get away with:

1 Black Ghost Knife
3-5 Angel Fish
1 Bristlenose Pleco would be good
1 Petricola catfish
12 Glass Cats

Provided you have good filtration and keep up on the water changes. You probably don't have to worry about snails too much unless you get live plants, which they hitchhike on from time to time.

A Black Ghost can live in a 55g for a long time. You'd eventually will need a minimum of a 75g tank. If you're looking for a Knife Fish to keep in there for life, you can go with an African Brown Knife. The best 55g tank set up I've ever had consisted of:

12 Congo Tetras
1 African Brown Knife
3 Ctenopoma
1 Synodontis Eruptus

 

[groovitudedude]

Bala sharks will definately get too big, pass on them completely.

 

[apisto]

my blackghost knife fish is over a foot in length and does not go near rummy noses. Still the 25 in the tank, I originally put in about 18 months ago.

 

[v320]

Some great suggestion here, thank you for your comments!

It seems bala sharks are definitely out... thanks for the pic reference groovi... those are some large fish indeed.

I guess an upgrade will be inevitable then, but a 75g is not too space consuming.

I also considered some rose-line shark, but I am not familiar with their temperament.
And, just to be on the safe side, perhaps I will cross the angels off the list, I’m not that big a fan of them anyway, but they do look interesting.

 

[dark_knights_99]

my blackghost knife fish is over a foot in length and does not go near rummy noses. Still the 25 in the tank, I originally put in about 18 months ago.

well, it still depends on the temperment of the fish. I have a 12 inch bgk that does bother the 4 small bgks.

 

[Scarycakes]

hmm i just had a sweet forum up about ghost knifes. I have one, and i was wondering if i could put a second in. Came to the concluision that one is probably best, i know thats now your question but ive had mine in my tank for maybe 4 days now, hes about 4" long, hes with 2 pbass in a 125. They like him he likes them, hes most active at night, obviously since he is nocturnal, and hes sooo fun to watch swim around. Good hiding spaces are the best andddd he loves bloodworms freeze dried. ate out of my had second day!

 

[v320]

hmm i just had a sweet forum up about ghost knifes. I have one, and i was wondering if i could put a second in. Came to the concluision that one is probably best, i know thats now your question but ive had mine in my tank for maybe 4 days now, hes about 4" long, hes with 2 pbass in a 125. They like him he likes them, hes most active at night, obviously since he is nocturnal, and hes sooo fun to watch swim around. Good hiding spaces are the best andddd he loves bloodworms freeze dried. ate out of my had second day!

Thanks for your comments...
Now that, is a topic I found a lot of info about when I did my search.
From what I read, some have gotten away with multiple bgkf, but most recommend not to go that route. They indicated a temperament issue, while others attribute this to their sonar (interference).
I considered a pair myself, but since I couldn't find a way to sex them, from what I read, as juvs to create a pair, I thought it was just safer/healthier to just have one.

Anyone else on other ideas for tank mates that can school/shoal are will be compatible?
And anyone with experience with the sharks I mentioned last (rose-line)?

 

[brigri]

I have a black ghost knife. These are his tankmates: Jack Dempsey (for now!), kissing guorami, Jurapari, Bichir, caecilliam worm, and a gold nugget pleco. He was with a pair of oscars too. The only fishes he didnt get along with were a blue crayfish and an African knife. Best of luck to you! Just try not to put with any other fish that have sonar or little guys.(they love guppies)