Black Ghost Knifefish

[Drake]

I have a black ghost knifefish and he lives in a 29 gallon tank with a bristlenose pleco. I have had him for about 8-10 months and he is know around 10 inches. When I got him he was only around 4 inches. I use a Marineland bio-wheel filter and keep the temp around 80 degrees. I feed him just about anything he will accept. This include freeze-dried krill, brine shrimp, tubifex, plankton, frozen bloodworms, and beefheart. I tried to feed him guppies once but he payed no attention to them. I was wondering if anybody knows what else is good to feed them or how to get them to eat live foods.

 

[Hara]

why would you want the hassle of having to feed live food? Most people work at getting their fish to accept frozen.

 

[Drake]

Its more fun to watch them eat live food instead of frozen. And in most cases its better for them.

 

[Hara]

actually, it isnt better for them if you consider the risk of disease you bring to the tank every time ou add live feeder fish. I have had my BGK for 4 years and he has never eaten live foods.

 

[SerLunchbox]

adding feeder fish is fine so long as you are the one raising the feeder fry (and it should be fry you are feeding it)
i agree that purchasing "feeder fish" from your LFS can cause a lot of problems. best to buy regular old guppies and breed them. then you will have a strong source of fry to feed your BGK

 

[Bad Jeff]

I agree with Serlunchbox.... I raise my own Platys and feed my BGK a few periodically...but only little ones, not full grow ones.

 

[wright4lfe]

"And in most cases its better for them. "

says who? i own multiple large fish (3 oscars, 14in pleco, 11in clown knife) and rarely if ever feed them feeders. they all have great color and never look sick. my first 2 oscars and my first clown knife died because of internal infections more than likely cause by being fed LFS feeders.

 

[Drake]

I have two clown knifefish, which one is about 16 inches the other is about 12 inches. They both seem to be doing fine on feeders. I also feed them night crawlers that you can get form walmart or a tackle store.

 

[Drake]

Also had do you know for sure that your first clown knife died from internal infections or parasites?

 

[wright4lfe]

"Also had do you know for sure that your first clown knife died from internal infections or parasites? "

because a close friend of mine works at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, CA as a biologist and i had him cut it open and inspect it.