Keeping Multiple Black Ghost Knife Fish

[CrazyKoiCracker]

Eesh sorry about the water change. That definitely a mistake I’ve almost made a couple times. I know pictures are difficult. Even the best can end up blurry. If your tank is planted, what’s in there? My dreams of an aquascaped Bichir tank are quickly being brought down to earth as they terrorize what I hoped would be a lovely microsword carpet.

 

[Serpentine]

I had a bunch of different species and colors of Amazon sword plants but they went bye-bye when the Geophagus abalios eartheaters got big enough to seriously move some sand. When we move them to their new tank I think we'll do a raised tier with rock work and tuck plants into that. The eartheaters will have the rest of the sand to work over while the plants are safe from harm.

The black ghost knives will eventually move to a 700 gallon Arowana tank when they are big enough. They're growing but they are still juvies. At a guess they're 5 1/2 inches.

 

[CrazyKoiCracker]

I had a bunch of different species and colors of Amazon sword plants but they went bye-bye when the Geophagus abalios eartheaters got big enough to seriously move some sand. When we move them to their new tank I think we'll do a raised tier with rock work and tuck plants into that. The eartheaters will have the rest of the sand to work over while the plants are safe from harm.

The black ghost knives will eventually move to a 700 gallon Arowana tank when they are big enough. They're growing but they are still juvies. At a guess they're 5 1/2 inches.

God 700 gallons would be a dream. My floors can barely handle a 50 gallon. I have a cement porch I plan on enclosing and opening to central heat and air, but until then I’m putting small tanks on sloping floors.
Once I have a good foundation for them, I’m not sure if I want to do a large oddball tank with Knives and Polypterus or a large marine tank.
Or a huge scape’d discus or angel tank. Or a 8’x4’ dwarf baby tears carpet with white cloud minnows.
If I only owned the Boston aquarium

 

[CrazyKoiCracker]

I had a bunch of different species and colors of Amazon sword plants but they went bye-bye when the Geophagus abalios eartheaters got big enough to seriously move some sand. When we move them to their new tank I think we'll do a raised tier with rock work and tuck plants into that. The eartheaters will have the rest of the sand to work over while the plants are safe from harm.

The black ghost knives will eventually move to a 700 gallon Arowana tank when they are big enough. They're growing but they are still juvies. At a guess they're 5 1/2 inches.

And yeah I actually looked at earth eaters as an option to go with my polys but then I figured I like plants too much.
So much easier to go to the fish store and pick out plants and new hardware than it is to get more fish and house them responsibly.
Definitely want a 150 gallon community where I can just randomly buy phantom plecos and rainbows and the like and know I have a home where they won’t get eatten. Or be cramped.

 

[Shukenukem]

You should be okay and hopefully you are successful in raising them up together. I had an awesome pair of adults that were 12"+ and they danced all night under the blue led lighting.

What are you feeding them?

What size tank did you house your 2 BKG in? I have 2 in a 120 gal they are small now 3.5" but was wondering how to keep them friendly as they get older? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

 

[Fatcat94]

So I’ve recently put 3 young ghost knifes together. I’ve read you’re suppose to have 4 but I can’t find another local one around. I’ve also heard they do a awesome dance together... they’re certainly is a dominant one already. Kind of worried about the 2 smaller ones getting bullied a lot. I’m getting a 125 gallon long tank soon that should suit them very well. Any suggesting or advice about having these 3 guys together??

 

[Fatcat94]

So I’ve recently put 3 young ghost knifes together. I’ve read you’re suppose to have 4 but I can’t find another local one around. I’ve also heard they do a awesome dance together... they’re certainly is a dominant one already. Kind of worried about the 2 smaller ones getting bullied a lot. I’m getting a 125 gallon long tank soon that should suit them very well. Any suggesting or advice about having these 3 guys together??

They’re in a 80 gallon tank. 2 are about 3” and 1 is about 4”

 

[Serpentine]

Lots of hiding places. Each knife should have its own cave or tube to call home. They will stake out their individual territories.

 

[Fatcat94]

Completely agree. At first the larger one was nipping at the only other small gold ghost fish in there so I decided to get another in hopes the aggression would be spread or a hierarchy would be established. I think he might have been hangry and they were figuring out their new hiding spots because now they seem to be going about their business and not chasing one another. Are gold knifefish their names? I’ve only seen black, brown, albino color names. Thinking the brown and gold are the same, gold is just more sexy of a name. Also getting a 125 gallon long tank. They’ll definitely appreciate that more. Getting it for 200$ including the stand... believe that’s a good deal

 

[Fatcat94]

Completely agree. At first the larger one was nipping at the only other small gold ghost fish in there so I decided to get another in hopes the aggression would be spread or a hierarchy would be established. I think he might have been hangry and they were figuring out their new hiding spots because now they seem to be going about their business and not chasing one another. Are gold knifefish their names? I’ve only seen black, brown, albino color names. Thinking the brown and gold are the same, gold is just more sexy of a name. Also getting a 125 gallon long tank. They’ll definitely appreciate that more. Getting it for 200$ including the stand... believe that’s a good deal

I have yet to see this dance I’ve been reading about... sounds super cool and reflecting of how good they feel about their environment