knifefish lighting please help

[mclb72]

Hi, I have a tiger knifefish and blackghost knifefish in 150 gallon tank with large caves. They get along great. Only problem is they only come out at night. Anyone know of any lighting that they will come out with. Maybe a blacklight or blue lightbulb???? Please help i would love to be able to better see my knifefish. Thanks, mike.

 

[Sonsinator]

I think blue might do the trick... that's my opinion..

 

[johnuskglass]

Awesome fish by the way. They sell water safe LED lights at my local Petco, but I think you could probably find something similar for cheaper.Other people get LED lights, clear off some gravel on the bottom so the glass is exposed, and but them underneath the tank so the light shines up through. Blue lights would look great.
Another thing that might help them come out in the day is for some more cover in the tank than just the two caves. That way, no matter where they are, they feel safe because they can instantly retreat. I think that and trying to feed them during the day, with the lights on for a while might get them to come out - it's worked for me on many ocassions.

 

[midnightCK]

feed them every other day during the day .. they will become more active and eagerly wait your feeding...
my knife tank gets really active at 645 tho when my timer turns the lights(t5 80w) off.i use a simple reptile lamp with a 50/50 9w bulb as a low light till 11-12 then blackout.

btw very nice tiger. wish i could get ahold of one.

 

[fcamargo6thave]

i used this underwater light i bought in my LFS should work worked fo rme

 

[midnightCK]

if led i would use white since its a bit more natural in a freshie..

 

[jaguartooth]

Two things made my ghost knife less shy.
1. More frequent feedings of its favorite food, bloodworms
2. The addition of LED lights

After about a month of this, my ghost now comes out during feeding when reg lights are on and eats sinking pellets along with the bloodsworms.

 

[BIGtyme]

what you can do is turn the light off over the tank, but leave a lamp on near the tank, that way there will be some light, but not enough as to make your knifes skidish, it worked for me anyway, if not just dont feed as often

 

[Tom500]

I use an origional tropical tube and wrap it in black cloth and add some amazon extract or bogwood to stain the water it makes a nice dim glow that looks very natural and the knifefish never stop swimming .

 

[killarbb]

avoid the blacklight. the majority of them have a "flicker" that will drive fish insane.........i have even heard of it driving them to suicide.



food for thought