How Do I Take Care Of A BGK
- Thread starter nort
- Start date
There is an 11 page thread in the Freshwater Newbie Forum on knifefish. It's probably worth your time to read it.
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They are VERY sensative to ANY water changes, like ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate spikes, even change in the temp of the water can kill them. They will EAT other small fish, grow to about 20 inches in length, needs about 75 gallons maybe.
They need PVC pipe or something to hide under. Stick a piece of slate leaning on the side of the aquarium so you can see them and they can still think they're hiding. They need to eat bloodworms and other meaty foods. VERY nocturnal, very easily stressed. Good luck on keeping one.
They need PVC pipe or something to hide under. Stick a piece of slate leaning on the side of the aquarium so you can see them and they can still think they're hiding. They need to eat bloodworms and other meaty foods. VERY nocturnal, very easily stressed. Good luck on keeping one.
Nort, what size aquarium do you have? Have you been keeping fish for very long? I strongly recommend you do alot of research BEFORE buying fish, it will save you alot of hassle and money!!! If you do not have the proper environment for a particular fish, it will likely die soon, or much sooner than it should, therefore hassle and money :thud:
You need a big tank, do lots of tests, have some experance with fish, and feed bloodworms everyday. Its not easy and I wouldent keep one if you have never keep fish before as it may take a year or so to get the hang of it.
UGGGGGGGGG!!!! Another AC member who reached our boards too late.
:rant: :rant: :rant: Oh how I wish a one week study of the AC threads were required reading for ALL fish owners.
There's no way we would convince every single person to our way of thinking, but at least we would save LOTS of fish in the process.
Oh it just makes me sooooooooooooo friggin mad!!!!!!!
Why on earth would any responsible pet store owner even offer these types of fish to the general public. I put the vast majority of this blame on LFS's. They know darn good and well what they sell, and they know darn good and well what type of fish keeper can house these fish and who can't.
:rant: :rant: :rant: Oh how I wish a one week study of the AC threads were required reading for ALL fish owners.
There's no way we would convince every single person to our way of thinking, but at least we would save LOTS of fish in the process.
Oh it just makes me sooooooooooooo friggin mad!!!!!!!
Why on earth would any responsible pet store owner even offer these types of fish to the general public. I put the vast majority of this blame on LFS's. They know darn good and well what they sell, and they know darn good and well what type of fish keeper can house these fish and who can't.Now that Im off my soapbox.......
Nort, please fill us in on what you've got going on. What size tank, fish, setup, tank mates etc....
You may be too far gone and just need to take this fish back.
But perhaps, given the correct info, we may be able to help you, granted you have the proper setup.
Nort, please fill us in on what you've got going on. What size tank, fish, setup, tank mates etc....
You may be too far gone and just need to take this fish back.
But perhaps, given the correct info, we may be able to help you, granted you have the proper setup.
He asked a simple question, you guys come across too hard sometimes. He doesn't need all you guys *****ing and whining about it.
Nort, try googling "black ghost knife" or "Apteronotus albifrons" and you'll get numerous results. I'm not familiar with BGKs, but know a few guys who do know a lot.
Try asking here
http://207.234.212.185/forums/index.php? or here
http://www.allthingsknife.net/ <-- pretty slow forum, but its good
Have you seen the AC profile?
http://www.aquariacentral.com/species/db.cgi?db=fresh&uid=default&ID=0390&view_records=1
HTH
Nort, try googling "black ghost knife" or "Apteronotus albifrons" and you'll get numerous results. I'm not familiar with BGKs, but know a few guys who do know a lot.
Try asking here
http://207.234.212.185/forums/index.php? or here
http://www.allthingsknife.net/ <-- pretty slow forum, but its good
Have you seen the AC profile?
http://www.aquariacentral.com/species/db.cgi?db=fresh&uid=default&ID=0390&view_records=1
HTH
Swimfins
This is as good as it gets.
Nort: Do not panic. Its relatively easy to keep this wonderful fish. He does grow quite large under proper conditions so, you must keep this in mind.
Firstly, he is nocturnal, so the best time to feed is at evening or just before lights out. Mine has a mixed diet of frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, good old market shrimp (cut into little bitty pieces), and frozen daphnia. But, he'll get along just fine on bloodworms.
You can keep him with just about any fish, providing he has space and a cave or a place to hide from the light during the day. The water must be very clean. The temperature should be steady, he prefers cooler temps around 75 or so, but I'm keeping mine at about 78 degrees with no trouble.
Mine is in a 66g tank and he is even sharing it with 3 platy/guppy cross breed babies that are about 1/4 inch long. He is not overly aggressive at 6 inches long now and seems to always be sharing the company of my pictus catfish and clown pleco. They sleep together and party together at night.
You will have to consider the growth factor and what to do in the event he gets to big for your tank. That is the only drawback I can see to keeping him. So, good luck, he is a very nice fish and can even be handfed with patience.
Firstly, he is nocturnal, so the best time to feed is at evening or just before lights out. Mine has a mixed diet of frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, good old market shrimp (cut into little bitty pieces), and frozen daphnia. But, he'll get along just fine on bloodworms.
You can keep him with just about any fish, providing he has space and a cave or a place to hide from the light during the day. The water must be very clean. The temperature should be steady, he prefers cooler temps around 75 or so, but I'm keeping mine at about 78 degrees with no trouble.
Mine is in a 66g tank and he is even sharing it with 3 platy/guppy cross breed babies that are about 1/4 inch long. He is not overly aggressive at 6 inches long now and seems to always be sharing the company of my pictus catfish and clown pleco. They sleep together and party together at night.
You will have to consider the growth factor and what to do in the event he gets to big for your tank. That is the only drawback I can see to keeping him. So, good luck, he is a very nice fish and can even be handfed with patience.