Brown Ghost Knives

Apteronotus leptorhynchus should grow to 8-9 inches if well maintained.

Oops, I was thinking of African Brown Knives, not brown Ghost Knives. Well, here's the info on Brown Knives anyways in case anyone is interested.


We just got a couple at our local Petsmart about a week ago. Our petsmart is one of the ones that has really, really healthy and varied livestock. Each knife was only about $5 apiece. Our knives are xenomystus nigiri, so I hope that's the species you're talking about. If so, I don't think they're that hard to find at all.

They get anywhere from 6" to 10" in aquariums, but that's as big as I've heard. I know they like to be together as juveniles, but should probably be separate as adults (or at least in a tank big enough for them to have their own separate territories.) They'll eat smaller fish, but I don't think they could fit anything bigger than a Platy in their mouths full grown. I know they also like to have floating plants to dim some of the light, as they're semi-nocturnal.

That's about all I know right now. Let me know if
you find out anything else!

So what would be the smallest tank you would suggest liv2padl?

both of their care is nearly if not exactly the same

i haven't seen a Brown GK in a LFS so i suppose they are pretty uncommon

Xenomystus nigri is the African Ghost Knifefish, not the Brown Ghost Knifefish. it grows larger than the Brown ... to about 12 inches.

a Brown Ghost Knifefish could be happy in 55 gallons but note that generally speaking, the Brown Ghost Knifefish is far more delicate than the black or african. it's much more timid, prone to stress and fungal infections and should only be kept tankmates that are neither 'pesky' nor 'curious' and mind their own business. corydoras catfish for example.

Awesome! Thanks.

I just bought a juvenille and put him in my 20 gal, hes getting moved up to 55 when its done cycling though. I am keeping him with my peacock eel and they are getting along great, they are sharing the same driftwood stump together. I am guessing from my experience, not from knowledge of the fish itself, that a peacock eel might be a good tankmate