Black Ghost Knife in a 55g tank?  1/5/07
Hi,
<Hi Iain, Pufferpunk here>
My name is Iain and I am thinking about getting a Black Ghost Knife but I have been told they are hard to look after -is this true? - And if yes how do you look after them?
<I think the biggest problem keeping these odd fish is feeding them.  Most will only eat live worms.  Mine hides, unless I am feeding & then it darts out of it's cave, eats & goes back into hiding.>
Before I get my Black Ghost Knife I would like to know would it be ok in a tank (48x18x12) with plants, rocks and a decorative barrel?
<I would say minimum--a 90g tank for these large-growing fish.>
Also will it be ok with theses fish listed:-
1- 3x Silver Sharks      3-4 inches
2- 2x Plecos               3-4 inches
3- 1x Albino Shark       2-3 inches
4- 4x Silver Mollies       1-2 inches
5- 10x Zebra Danios     1-1.5 inches
6- 10x Penguin Tetras  0.5-1.5 inches
7- 10x Black Neon’s     0.5-1 inches
Thank You for taking your time to read this Question
<I think your tank is stocked quite well as it is.  The BGK has also been known to eat small fish.  Watch the adult sizes of those Plecos (if common plecs, 18") & "silver sharks" (not quite sure what species those are--Bala sharks?  Also grow quite large, 14").  Great job for someone of your age!  ~PP>
From, Iain MacPherson - aged 13

Re: No to BGK, FW Oddball fish?  1/5/07
Hi,
<Hi again>
Thanks for the information - so are you saying I should stay away from BGK- if yes, can you recommend any other oddball fish?
<There are other smaller knife fish, like the brown knife & glass knife.  You will need a consistent live supply of worms for them though.  As far as other oddballs--I like the African butterfly but you must be sure to cover all of the tank at all times or they will jump. Same for the rope eel--another cool oddball.  Your best bet would be look through the WWM website & do some research on different species you may like.  ~PP>
Thanks for taking your time to read my question.
Iain MacPherson, aged 13

Knifefish selection mostly  2/3/06
Sorry to be bugging you so much, but I just had a few more questions... my dad has agreed to buy me a 70 gallon tank in the near future (!!). I was
just wondering what you meant when you said the Xenomystus nigri is a Notopterid. Does this mean it is a bad choice?
<Oh no... just that it's not a member of a what folks typically consider (South American families of mildly electrogenic fishes>
Also, when I do (if I do) get an elephant nose, does this mean they will be compatible (Is the African knife a Mormyrid)?
<Not likely trouble... I would not mix electrogenic fishes... Notopterid (see the family... on WWM, fishbase.org) are not>
I recently noticed that one of my small angels has sort of deformed gills. It breathes heavily and some of the gill is exposed on
both sides, however it is feeding well and loves frozen bloodworms. anything special I should be doing for it?
<No... likely a typical genetic-physical/developmental defect here>
Lastly, do you know any good ways to get rid of unwanted fish?
<Mmm... a large/r predatory animal that will eat the excess culls>
Most of my local stores do not want them, except maybe for Petcetera. However, I do not feel comfortable giving my fish to them.
Though the staff are more knowledgeable than those at, say, Wal-mart, they do not seem to care much for their fish once they are sold. Lately, I saw
them carrying small Oscars, with no warning to how large they grow, as well as deceptively small piranhas (1-2 inches - for $25!!!!). They cannot even
keep a tank of guppies alive, so I do not think they should be carrying these fish. Thank you for you advice, and I have talked to my parents. They
agreed to let me volunteer/work at a pet store on weekends/holidays. Now all I need to do is find some place that will take me!
-Eddy
<Are there any fish clubs about in your area? You might find friends there to trade with... establish networks for such. Bob Fenner>

Re: Clown Knife Fish  - 2/11/2006
Thank you for your reply Bob.  I did read quite a few articles in WWM prior to my inquiry.  Unfortunately, I was unable to obtain any specific
information to my questions because WWM has comments from your staff stating the clown knife will get two feet in some articles and three or four in others.
<All good "guesses" for genus Notopterus... see fishbase.org re... Have seen them near three feet in Thailand's public aquariums, though two feet is a good general maximum for captivity in the West... see this: http://fishbase.org/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=8765&genusname=Chitala&speciesname=lopis>
Therefore I am unaware if a 125 gal aquarium will be large enough for the tinfoil barbs and clown knife.
<Not "ultimately">
I understand the giant danios will eventually be eaten, I got them so the knife would get some extra exercise chasing them.  Is that a good idea?  
<Not IMO>
Since it's not likely the clown knife will eat pellets, what can I do to limit disease from live Rosies?
Thank you.
Orlando
<... Culture or quarantine them for weeks ahead of time... I'd train the knife to take cut meat... Bob Fenner>

Clown Knife, Cory Cat - 08/16/2005
Greetings Bob,
<Hi, Richard; Sabrina here, this morning!>
This morning I noticed my clown knife had something in it's mouth and it turned out to be a Cory cat.  
<Yikes!>
I knew that the clown knife ate live fish but I didn't think it would until it was much bigger.   My knife is about 6-7 inches long right now.  
<That's plenty big for any knife to start eating small fish....  These are very efficient predators.>
The Cory seems to be stuck in his mouth.  
<Not good....  Chances are, he spread his dorsal and pectoral fins to prevent being eaten.  I suppose it worked, sort of....>
It has been in his mouth now for a few hours.  Is this normal?
<No, and yes.  It's a normal reaction for the Cory to prevent himself being eaten, and it's normal for a clown knife to try to eat smaller fishes....  If the Cory is dead, and the knife is in obvious, extreme distress, I would try removing the Cory's pectoral fins with thin, VERY sharp scissors, then pull it out - GENTLY - or have a vet do so, if you've got a vet who would.  If the Cory is alive, let 'em have some time to work this out.  Watch the knife very closely for a while.  This may work out fine on its own.>
This is the first time I have seen my knife eat live food.  Please advise.
<Err, this is probably obvious, but whatever the outcome of this instance, remove all smallish catfish from the knife's tank, or you'll be sure to see this happen again!>
Warm Regards,  Richard D. Warren
<Wishing you well,  -Sabrina>

Clown Knife, Cory Cat - II - 08/16/2005
Sabrina,
<Hi, Rich>
Thank you for your help.  
<Any time.>
Unfortunately my knife didn't make it.  
<I am so sorry to hear this....  So sorry for your loss; they are such beautiful, interesting fish!>
I appreciate all your help though.
<I wish I could have been of more help.  Perhaps in the future, you might look to Xenomystus nigri instead of the clown....  Though it might still have the same issue with small Corys and otos, it would stay small enough to be safe with larger Corys and other catfishes.>
Rich Warren
<Wishing you well,  -Sabrina

That's Black the Knife
Hi guys and dolls....
<Hello, Sabrina with you today>
My question refers to the black ghost Knifefish.  I saw some at my LFS for $25!! Expensive but they are really cool. Now I know they are supposed to be black with a white stripe running down the top, and a white ring on their tail. The LFS had about 9 of them, but some of them had a yellowish stripe instead of white. Is this normal or are they sick? Thanks for the info.
<I've seen older ghosts have yellowed looking stripes as well as a graying body, but when young, they should be quite black with rather vivid white markings.  Do keep in mind that this is a shy, nocturnal animal, very aggressive within its species (one to a tank, basically), and reaches a whopping 20 inches....  A very large tank would be quite necessary to house one of these beautiful beasts - and no aggressive fish, nor any small fish, could be housed with it.>

In Love with a Chocolate Ghost Knife
Hi Bob,
<Hello Susie>
I have recently (three weeks ago to be exact) set up a freshwater (20 gallon) tank. My daughter has four aquariums, and has been quite successful with her fish. I went to her "fish place" to purchase a few new fish and fell in love with a chocolate ghost knife.
<A beautiful and intelligent species>
The owner of the shop assured me he would be fine with my mollies (5), guppies(6), platties(2), Cory cats(2), red tail shark(1), silver stripe shark(1), leopard algae eater(1),and neons(4). He is about five inches long and he is beautiful! I would really like to keep him, but now I have read on some internet sites that this may be bad. He seems to be fine, and prefers a rock cave to his clear tube. My questions are :
<Well... it will likely eat all baby livebearers... and your Neons in time... And the "sharks" prefer different water quality... hard/alkaline versus softer/acidic... and the worst fact to relate... your tank is way too small for all these fishes.>
1.Did I make an incorrect purchase? 2.Will he kill my other fish? 3.How does he find his food (bloodworms are what the guy suggested). 4.Does he absolutely have to have live food, and if so, what should I give him.
<Not live food, frozen defrosted meaty foods will likely do... offered right after "lights out" for the Ghost...>
I would really like to keep him, but I do not want to do the wrong thing.
<There are many other things to know about this fish and its relatives... they don't tolerate much in the way of standard fish medications... are electrogenic... Bob Fenner>
Thanks,
Susie