Two Quick Questions Regarding BGKs

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GobyMaster

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Feb 19, 2008
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Smack Dab in the Center of the Good Ol' U.S. of A
Hello, I was wondering:

I want to set up an Amazon Biotope aquarium, and I had a question, can a Black Ghost Knifefish be kept with any of the Corydoras catfish species or any of the higher-back tetras, i.e. Bleeding Heart, ect?

Second question:

Would a 55 gallon tank which dimensions are the following: 48x18x20" be sufficient for a Black Ghost Knifefish?

I was told by a member of the Tropical Fish Forums that a 55 would be fine, as long as the tank was at least 18" wide, and the one I have is.

So, any answers would be helpful!
Thanks,
GobyMaster
 
My BGK lives happily with 4 Bronze Cories and 4 Buenos Aires Tetras - and a bunch of Danios - I give up trying to count them - but 6 - 12. They have been together for almost a year now. (4 months after setup).

I have had some of the Danios die off :( . I had some of them before I knew what 'cycling' was... Once I found out I worked hard to keep the levels down but I am sure that they were already damaged by then. That was well over a year ago and now I seem to be missing a few. The oldest and largest ones are missing... the youngest and smallest are all there.

The only time my BGK even knows the Cories exist is when I try to slip in some sinking wafers for them. My BGK is crazy over them. He plows around the tank searching and if a Cory is in the way it is just plowed off to one side - not hurt - just pushed out of the way. It is really funny to watch especially when the Cories try to 'race' for the prize - they NEVER win :)

Keep the BGK well fed and the water conditions good and you should not have any problems.

(I don't remember if you mentioned sizes or not... if it is a full grown BGK just being introduced to tetras then I would be careful - some are raised on 'feeder fish'.)
 
I have observed that bgk doesn't harm any bottom dwelling fishes. Danios can swim very fast and as for the tetras, well it depends on the bgk temperments or how you raised him/her.
 
Okay, the Black Ghost would be about 3", I saw him a little while ago at my LFS.

So, if I introduced the Cories and Tetras a few months before the BGK, and it would be about 3", it probably won't try to eat any of the fish?
I have heard that the BGK is easily one of the most peaceful knifefish, and they can be kept with small fish.
Thanks, got any helpful tips for a first time keeper?
 
Hit or miss... they are predators so if they get hungry or bored they may eat the smaller fish. Their mouth is bigger than most think.

But I have seen a lot of people get away with it. Only thing about corys is they are shady... if they are eaten you bgk will go with it.

You tank should be fine for life, most bgk don't get over 14 inches, 18 is usually an absolute max even though supposively they get 20+... never seen it though (i think miles had one that was close )
 
A 55 gal should house a BGK for quite a while. Its unusual swimming pattern makes many people comfortable keeping a BGK in a tank that would be too small for many fish of the same size. I think you must be committed to providing a bigger tank if your BGK exceeds 12 inches, but that is just my opinion of course. Many BGK will never grow much larger than that anyway.

I keep my BGK with 4 catfish - 1 brochis, 1 cory, and 2 banjos. The only trouble occurs when the catfish are eating near the BGK, in which case it will "encourage" them to move to another area of the tank so it can hog up all the food. These are large, fat catfish that could not just be swallowed, and BGK gets plenty of food that is easier to catch and eat, so they are not in any danger in my tank.
 
Have a list of South American plants
South American plants
biotopic plant list

Alternanthera reineckii
Azolla filiculoides
Azolla caroliniana-Fairy moss
Bacopa australis
Bacopa lanigera-Hairy Water Hyssop
Bacopa myriophylloides
Cabomba aquatica
Cabomba caroliniana
Cabomba furcata
Ceratopteris pteridoides
Ceratopteris thalictroides
Ceratophyllum submersum
Echinodorus angustifolius
Echinodorus amazonicus-Amazon sword
Echinodorus aschersonianus
Echinodorus bleheri
Echinodorus berteroi
Echinodorus bolivianus
Echinodorus cordifolius-Radican sword
Echinodorus grandiflorus
Echinodorus grisebachii
Echinodorus horizontalis
Echinodorus isthmicus
Echinodorus latifolius
Echinodorus macrophyllus
Echinodorus magdalenensis
Echinodorus martii-Ruffled sword
Echinodorus opacus
Echinodorus osiris-Melon sword
Echinodorus palaefolius
Echinodorus paniculatus
Echinodorus parviflorus
Echinodorus portoalegrensis
Echinodorus quadricostatus-Cuban broad leaf chain
Echinodorus subalatus
Echinodorus tenellus-Narrow leaf chain sword
Echinodorus uruguayensis
Egeria densa-Elodea densa
Egeria najas-Elodea najas
Eichhornia azurea
Eichhornia crassipes-Water Hyacinth
Eichhornia diversifolia-Variable Leaf Water Hyacinth
Eichhornia hetrosperma
Eichhornia natans
Eleocharis acicularis-dwarf hairgrass,needle spike rush,hairgrass
Gymnocoronis spilanthoides-Senegal tea plant,temple plant,spade leaf plant
Heteranthera reniformis
Heteranthera zosterifolia-Stargrass
Hydrocleys martii
Hydrocleys nymphoides
Hydrocotyle leucocephala
Hydrocotyle ranunculoides
Hydrocotyle verticillata
Hydrothix gardneri
Hygrophila guianensis
Lemna minor
Lilaeopsis brasiliensis
Lilaeopsis carolinensis-micro word
Ludwigia helminthorrhiza
Ludwigia inclinata
Ludwigia palustris-water primrose
Ludwigia sedoides
Mayaca fluviatillis
Myriophyllum aquatica
Myriophyllum mattogrossense
Najas conferta
Najas guadalupensis-guppy grass
Nitella flexilis-Stonewort,smooth stonewort
Nymphaea glandulfera
Nymphaea lotus
Nymphaea rudgeana
Nymphoides microphylla
Ottelia brasiliensis
Phyllanthus fluitans- Red root floater
Potamogeton acutifolius
Potamogeton ***i
Reussia rotundifolia
Sagittaria subulata-dwarf sag or narrow leaf Sag
Sagittaria lancifolia
Sagittaria montevidensis
Sagittaria subulata-dwarf sag or narrow leaf Sag
Salvinia molesta-Giant salvina
Salvinia cuccullata
Salvinia auriculata
Vallisneria americana v. 'Biwaensis'-corkscrew val

The below listed plants are considered cosmopolitan (found world wide)and may
be listed already
SIMPLE FLOATING PLANTS
Ricciocarpus natans (cosmopolitan)
Ricca fluitans (cosmopolitan)
Lemna gibba (cosmopolitan)
Lemna pauciocostata (cosompolitan)
Lemna minor (cosmopolitan)
Lemna Angolensis (cosmopolitan)
FERNS
Ceratopteris thailctroides (cosmopolitan)
Ceratopteris pteridoides (cosmopolitan)
Ceratophyllum submersum (cosmopolitan)
Ceratophyllum demersum
MOSSES
Riccia fluitans (cosmopolitan)
Leptodictyum riparium (cosmopolitan)
Riccia rhenana (cosmopolitan)
STEM PLANTS
Nitella gracilis (cosmopolitan)
PLANTS WITH LONG STEMS
Hydrilla verticillata (cosmopolitan)
 
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