View Full Version : black ghost knife fish.
Deneault
07-10-2009, 4:32 PM
Are these black ghost knife fish ok to put into a 50gal? I heard they can grow fairly big. And im guessing he'll prob eat tetra. any ideas? My gf really wants one ^^
bradlgt21
07-10-2009, 5:52 PM
They get huge and will eat tetra's. They get to a foot and a half in length. They are carnivores so they will eat a tetra if they can sneak up on them. I believe they are slow though. I still wouldn't suggest putting anything in with it. I think that fish isn't really a new person type fish. It's like a Discus I would say. Really cool but inless you have a big setup with a few tanks and have been doing it for years I wouldn't try it.
Dopehand
07-10-2009, 6:22 PM
A fifty gallon fish tank is a little too small for a ghost knife. You'll want a large (100+, if at all possible) species tank with good filtration for their optimum environment.
abarilot
07-10-2009, 7:30 PM
A 50g would be fine for a growout. They supposedly get 20" but most in capivity are about 12-15". They are very slow growers but will eat your tetras once it gets bigger. They are peaceful towards other bigger fish though but not towards other electric fish.
Dopehand
07-10-2009, 8:20 PM
For a growout tank, yes. But purchasing a fish for a bigger tank you don't own yet is not a good idea.
Definately wont be fine with tetras, my BGK lived happily with a few neon tetras for a month then one day decided to suck their eyes out. I woke up one morning to find 4 of my tetras swimming about with only one eye, the good news is managed to pull them out of the tank and they lived happily for another year in my 20gallon.
benzjamin13
07-11-2009, 3:20 AM
A 50g will last it for a long time. 75g would be the minimum for these guys for life. While they can get 20" they rarely grow over 16" in captivity. Smaller Tetras will definitely be on the menu, but some of the larger Tetras, like Congo Tetras, could probably last for awhile.
jm1212
07-11-2009, 9:00 PM
a fully grown BGK wouldnt even be able to turn around in a 75...we're talking upwards of 125-150 gallons for BGK's.
Blackghost415
07-12-2009, 1:42 AM
currently my BGK is in a 60, and he's 9 inches. But in a few months he will be in a 125 with a school of Discus. For a growout tank you need at least a 55.
a fully grown BGK wouldnt even be able to turn around in a 75...we're talking upwards of 125-150 gallons for BGK's.
I don't understand why 75g is not the definite bare minimum. The width is sufficient enough for one BGK itself to turn around. And I have never seen BGKs reaching over 16 inches either. That would be quite an achievement but it is not all the time this happens.
benzjamin13
07-12-2009, 3:08 AM
a fully grown BGK wouldnt even be able to turn around in a 75...we're talking upwards of 125-150 gallons for BGK's.
BGKs average 16" in captivity. A 75g is 18" wide. And again, I was recommending a 75g as a bare minimum.