How fast do BGK grow and other questions

[icefreeze57]

I think these are amazing fish and know they need 75 gallons min when they are big, but how long does it take them to get that big? And whats the smallest I could I baby in?

Also, what do these eat? are they bottom dwellers? or do they eat a regular diet?

thanks

 

[PToney]

Have not had mine long enough to say about growth. My BGK eats pellets willingly.

 

[sross]

I got my BGK about 6 to 8 months ago. He has grown about 8 inches sense then now totaling about 12inches or more. I kept mine in a 26 gallon for a few months before I put him in my 450g tank. If you buy a baby then you might get away with a year or less in a smaller tank, depending on what size tank you were wanting to put one in. Mine likes a wide variety of meaty frozen foods and will except hikari pellets sometimes. I call min my tank vacuum anything that gets left behind gets eaten by him.

 

[icefreeze57]

I have a 40 which he would be fine in, but I cant promise him something bigger so ill pass for now i think

 

[benzjamin13]

Here's a Sticky to answer some of your questions
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?168583-Black-Ghost-Knife

They tend to grow pretty quickly until they hit around 7" and it tends to slow down a bit. Once they get to 10" then it turns into "the waiting game" lol! I had a couple that I've raised from 3" to 6" in about 3-4 months. My current is around 10.5" and I've had him for about 2+ years now.

 

[icefreeze57]

thanks ill check it out

 

[blackghostuk]

The one I have now grew from 3" - 10" in less than a year... this is about normal. Since then he's grown an inch per year and is now 13". They need a suitable hiding place, like a piece of drainpipe, and fed in the dark preferably, after lights out... unless it comes out through the day which some won't. Also depends on tankmates. They won't come out if they're going to get bothered by other fish (although if it gets physical they will bite back). Mine eats prawns, cockles and bloodworm, and some pellets.

My current one used to come out through the day, whenever food was added to the tank. When it was 7" I put some 3" Oscars in the tank (180 US). It never came out through the day again till the Oscars went.