Black Ghost Knife Information
The Black Ghost Knife fish is a very unique but incredibly interesting fish found in the hobby. Although it is a carnivorous animal, this gorgeous fish is more on the shy side, especially when first introduced into an aquarium. Once acclimated to the fish tank, it can become more active but that is subjective because this fish is nocturnal and is more active at night.
Black Ghost Knives do not really have significant teeth, if any at all, but instead have a beak. They use this beak to grab prey and consume it. This tropical fish is not recommended to be kept by amateur fish keepers because of a few traits they possess.
One very unique trait of the Black Ghost Knife is the way it commonly finds food. It has an organ that is electrically charged. Kind of like a sonar and it uses that to find food in the wild or in a fish tank. Also, they do not have scales and are more prone to becoming infected with disease and illnesses. Under ideal conditions this fish can grow to sizes well over a foot in length (approximately 18 inches). These are a few reasons this fish is not recommended for anyone just starting with fishkeeping. This guide will go into detail on keeping Black Ghost Knife fish.
Aquarium Requirements
Because of its size once it reaches adulthood, the Black Ghost Knife should be kept in an aquarium that is at least 150 gallons. Length in an aquarium is important but really consider the width as well, especially for this fish. It is long and skinny so providing it with a wide aquarium is ideal!
As stated above, this animal is carnivorous. Its diet will consist of protein rich food. As a result, keeping this fish will require a good filtration system to help maintain proper water parameter levels. Luckily, it should not really bother plants in an aquarium and the plants can help a little with maintenance! Regardless, keeping up with water changes will help keep this fish healthy. It does best in water parameters with the following ranges:
- Water Temperature: 73 – 82 degrees Fahrenheit
- KH 0 – 10
- pH 6.5 – 7.0
The Black Ghost Knife fish is a pretty shy fish. It will hide in nooks and crannies within the aquarium for most of the day. I really recommend providing it with many different types of places to hide. Also, providing a lot of shade with plants will keep this fish happy because it prefers lower light. It will most definitely try to hide under driftwood, rocks or even wedge itself in-between plants. Fishkeepers can place an appropriately sized, clear plastic tube into the aquarium to view this fish during the day when it is hiding. Beware of sharp or jagged decorations. This fish is more prone to getting infections from scratches because it lacks scales!
Food & Diet
Being carnivores, you can easily assume the types of food this fish can eat. Foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, and flake food should work well for the Black Ghost Knife when it is small. Once it grows, foods such as squid, krill and earthworms are fantastic to feed this animal. Be mindful of the invertebrates you add into your aquarium with this fish around because they may become a snack!
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It is not recommended to keep incredibly small fish with Black Ghost Knife fish. Little fish may become a quick meal for this carnivore. On the other hand, overly aggressive fish and fish that nip and bite shouldn’t be kept with Black Ghost Knife fish. This species of Knife fish do best with peaceful fish that are larger than it. Black Ghost Knife fish are compatible with fish such as:
- Peaceful Cichlids (Angelfish, Discus, Geophagus)
- Cory Cats
- Plecos
- Clown Loaches
Remember, if it can fit into the Ghost Knife’s mouth it can most certainly become dinner.
I do not recommend keeping two Knife fish together. Whether that’s the Black Ghost Knife or other species. Mostly due to their large size when they’re full grown but they may also become aggressive towards one another. If you’re considering adding two into your fish tank, really make sure the aquarium is large enough.
Breeding
I will not dive into how to breed Black Ghost Knife fish because it is incredibly challenging. The hardest part of breeding is acquiring a mature mated pair. Also, if you’re interested in breeding this fish, know you’ll most likely need a large pond or a very large fish tank.
Final Notes
The Black Ghost Knife is a gorgeous fish and hopefully its unique requirements do not scare you away from keeping it. It is definitely a commitment and your aquarium’s design should revolve around it but its appearance and personality are definitely worth the challenge! If you have personal experiences with this fish or have your own advice, please share it in the comments below!
Featured image by: Vassil on wikiMedia Commons