OMG! Baby BGK's!!

[dmed]

Saw four of them yesterday. I had believed the myth that almost all are wild caught. I had to part with my 9'' wild caught one as it was tearing up all my fish. But these are captive bred. So tiny and so cute!

And I do miss my BGK.

Wondering if I was to get a little 3''one. If brought up with my Bichirs(once it is a bigger size of course!) if he might be mellower than the wild caught one I had, was? Any opinions?

I'm just wondering why no one would believe that fish-catchers also catch juvenile fish??? Juveniles are far easier to maintain, transport, and ship, in terms of water volume, oxygen requirements, feeding, and likelihood of injury. **Fish in the wild have babies more often than fish in tanks.**

Also, aren't you afraid that bichirs would eat a 3" BGK?

As a favor, please ask the seller where he or she buys the captive-bred BGK. I know a lot of people that would have a great interest in this.

 

[dark_knights_99]

Researchers and ichthyologists can't get them to breed, so how is this? I would appreciate it if you could find out where they farm them so we can solve this great mystery.

Hiya dmed even if they know the farm, they won't teach you how to breed the fish because its business. A good example, the asian arowana. I just went to one of the importers in our country and I saw a lot of 3 to 3 1/2 inch BGK in a 100g tank. I could take the pics of it but I don't have a camera with me and I'm not sure if the importer will approve of this. I think I saw almost 300+ little bgk.

 

[dmed]

You don't have to ask for their trade secrets. I'm not trying to breed any knife fish, believe me, but I know how some species (NOT BGK) have been bred in captivity and it's complicated stuff - it's tedious, unreliable, and would absolutely NOT be profitable.

I'm not asking anyone to steal the secret recipe, and I'm not asking anyone to call somebody a liar, and I'm not calling anyone a liar either. I can accept the fact that something is possible, I'm just saying that all available evidence points to "NO", so we need to see evidence for "YES" other than small fish that could very well be live-caught. As I said, an exporter from SA where they're caught would love to find a bunch of little ones, they're easier to ship to places like NA, Australia, Phillipines, and all the other places we buy them.

All I ask is that when you see the baby knife fish, ask where they came from, or better yet, ask to see the bill of lading. That's a legitimate question that a vendor should not object to. Then follow the trail - it probably leads back to the Amazon River.

Bottom line is, people are now coming here and saying "most BGK are farmed." That sounds like you KNOW. Where did you get that information? Juvenile fish are not evidence of breeding. I think it's quite premature to say that it's a "myth" that BGK are wild-caught just because a store had some 3" specimens, that's a juvenile -- certainly not fry.

 

[cmartin]

Sometimes things happen without being 'Published'.

Sometimes published findings are overturned.

I believe in research as much as anyone else - but I also believe in some things that I can't 'prove' and I don't believe everything I read.

It can be done - it has been done - and it is being done. Those who talk about it or claim to have done it are met with just this sort of response.

I am not sure why it seems to upset some people so much.
I really thought that 'folks' here would be more supportive of others trying new things. I love to follow along as someone builds a new tank or talks about a new fish settling in. I try to learn as much as I can and be as supportive as I can.

Still searching for my larger tank but once I have it ready I will be ordering several BGKs - all very small - and letting them grow up together. I am taking this approach as I can't seem to find an adult for sale.

I guess those who can keep them alive and healthy rarely part with them.

Anyone with a 200+ gal tank for sale in Central Canada - please let me know - I am definately looking.

I don't know if I will be successful or not, but I can tell you that I will be trying. Just don't hold you breathe for me to 'publish' my findings... but I will provide lots of pics.

If live is not an adventure - it is just plain boring.

 

[thefishguy7]

Scroll down 2/3 of the page on this link. There are 2 reports of people breeding bgk, both with pics.
http://aqualandpetsplus.com/Knife, Black Ghost.htm

 

[aranos]

Researchers and ichthyologists can't get them to breed, so how is this? I would appreciate it if you could find out where they farm them so we can solve this great mystery.

BS. they breed the hell out of them in Malaysia/Indonesia.

From animalworld.com:

"Until a few years ago, all offered for sale were wild caught and had been imported from South America, mainly from Brazil. The good news is that they are now being bred in Indonesia by the thousands, so much of the pressure has been taken off the wild populations. Odds are that if you see an individual of 5 inches or more offered of sale, it was collected in the wild. Specimens smaller than 5 inches were most likely produced in and imported from Indonesia."

Contact info for one of the farms if you wanna check it out for yourself:

Christian Tropical Fish Div
Jl. Rawa
Buntu Utara V2/29 Sector I-2
BSD Tangerang, Banten

"Our Company is located in West Java, Serpong. The first time we begin to breed the Black Ghost fish is in 1999. We begin with raising 2000 baby black ghost fish, and we begin our production after 9 months after the fish begin to breed. Our farm is located in several different place and we also networked with several local farmer (BlackGhost) located in West Java. That is why we believe that we can provide this fish continuosly."

 

[dmed]

I hope that you will do it, and I hope that you will show us. Very large grants ($$$) have been spent unsuccessfully in breeding experiments, so if you are successful, keep very careful records and detailed photos and video. You might later change your mind about publishing.

I'm asking for proof because I don't want to go around repeating information that is incorrect. I believe the research. If it's wrong, I want to know so I can correct my error.

 

[dmed]

Here are some pictures I took (with my cell phone) of "baby BGK". I tried to take individual pics, but there were four of them in the tank, all under 3 inches.

Sadly, if I posted a thread with these pics plus adult pics that said "look at my baby BGK that I bred" people would be congratulating me. But if I say BGK aren't bred in captivity, it's

These BGK were at the LFS 2 miles from my house. I talked to the aquatics manager the day I took the pics, and they are wild-caught. I look for evidence on my own because I want to know. I don't just show up here and try to be a party-pooper.

If I'm wrong, it won't bother me to say so and change my tune. I keep looking for evidence because I don't want to spread information that is false. If the evidence is out there, please bring it to me and I will happily spread the good news.


Edit... DUH! I forgot the pictures! Here they are:

 

[aranos]

I believe the research. If it's wrong, I want to know so I can correct my error.

To which journal articles are you referring, Dr. Science? It looks like you need to do a little more reading. Another report of breeding from a reputable source:

http://www.gnsaquarium.com.au/html/bgk.html

 

[moonchild1970]

I'm just wondering why no one would believe that fish-catchers also catch juvenile fish??? Juveniles are far easier to maintain, transport, and ship, in terms of water volume, oxygen requirements, feeding, and likelihood of injury. **Fish in the wild have babies more often than fish in tanks.**

Also, aren't you afraid that bichirs would eat a 3" BGK?

As a favor, please ask the seller where he or she buys the captive-bred BGK. I know a lot of people that would have a great interest in this.

Wow that sounds like alot of anger. First of all you didn't read my FIRST post that started this whole thread. Part of it said:

Wondering if I was to get a little 3''one. If brought up with my Bichirs(once it is a bigger size of course!) if he might be mellower than the wild caught one I had, was? Any opinions?

See, I am not dumb enough to pop a 3'' baby BGK into a 55g or 75G tank, with big 9'' Bichirs.
I have SEVERAL tanks at my house.

He would start out in a 15 or a 20G tank. With some Mollie fish. If he were to eat them,oh well, I don't care. 'Cuz, they are bred for food anyhow.

Second of all how do we know they are farmed?

A few of us KNOW of someone on here that raises their own. And yes some people do have luck doing that. They just have a knack for it, so instead of being envious I feel that we should admire that. After all it's cool, AND it would bring down the prices for the rest of us.

Also the LFS told me that they are bred locally, and I have no reason NOT to believe him. They are very social little things and even if wild...I don't care. I want one.

I think getting one younger would be easier because he has wild for a shorter amount of time then say the 9'' wild caught one I had. And so the transition to tank would be easier on him,
IMO.

No big deal. This thread wasn't meant to start a debate or an argument. No where in my post did I ever say jucnile BGK are NOT caught and sold.

But this thread is about FARM BRED ones. ANd if they might just work out better for MY tank.

Just wanted to know whether younger ones or farmed ones, would be tamer and if I should go for it or not.