Mini-knives?
- Thread starter Buphy
- Start date
AFAIK there are no real nano knives. but there's a few South american knives that get rather small like, Eigenmannia virescens and Brachyhypopomus pinnicaudatus - but even those would get too big for a 6 gal
There are actually a few species of knifefish that top out around a couple of inches, particularly in the genus Hypopygus. These guys look like miniature Steatogenys (Sierra knifefish), but I kind of doubt they ever get collected by exporters.
Alright try this. Try a small group of thermometer Knifefish. ( Gymnorhamphichthys Rondoni) try maybe 2 or 3. That should do you they reach 6in max but stay around 4.5. But if you find any, send a picture on this thread because they are often confused with Gymnorhamphichthyknifsfis hypostomus which get much bigger (around 12 inches+ )
Keep in mind, this is all you are going to keep in there. Probably nothing else. These guys are also picky eaters. It took me 3 months to ween my group of 30 (lol) onto bloodworms. So I would do either blood or black to start. And keep in mind that these guys have to have great water conditions. They are very active fish and if the conditions are bad their activity will go down. Keep us posted! Man I love Knifefish! Haha
AND..... They must have sand!! MUST!! They need to dig with their beeks. It relieves stress. If you put gravel then they have a high possibility of injuring their beak and they won't eat and eventually die. So sand is a must! Good luck and man I need to settle down 
Ya, was going with sand. Have it left over from setting up the 2 125s. Those are cute! Also you say a group... Do they do better in a group?
Filtration! Was thinking like a 40 gallon sponge filter and lots of plants... That work well for them or do they like a current?
Filtration! Was thinking like a 40 gallon sponge filter and lots of plants... That work well for them or do they like a current?
They live in dead pools with little current. So I would say not a lot of current but some is fine. It not going to kill them to deal with some lol. They feel comfortable in groups rather than by themselves. This being because they can communicate with their electrical senses. The Gymnorhamphichthys species normally communicate more than any other species. This is mainly because of their vulnerability because they are a dark water knife. Dark water knives have very poor eyesight. Worse than bgk! Most Gymnorhamphichthys and Osterosternarchus knives like to be in groups. If you have any other questions let me know I've been studying these Knifefish lately... Only one of the few hundred I study... Been studying knives my whole life (a whole 15 years haha)