Can african cichlids live with black ghost knives?

Verdict

No. African cichlids and black ghost knives should not share a tank. An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches african cichlids do.

African cichlid75–82°F · pH 7.8–8.6

Black ghost knife73–82°F · pH 6–8

What to watch

Deal breakerAn adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches african cichlids do.
Watch outAfrican cichlids are aggressive. Black ghost knives hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.

What works

Both are fine at 75–82°F.
pH 7.8–8 suits both.

Water side by side

The green band is the temperature range both can live in.

The green band is the pH both tolerate.

Size to scale

Adult length in an aquarium. A fish can swallow anything that fits in its mouth, roughly a third to half its own length for predators.

Care at a glance

	African cichlid	Black ghost knife
Temperature	75–82 °F	73–82 °F
pH	7.8–8.6	6–8
Adult size	5.0 in	15.0 in
Minimum tank	55 gal	125 gal
Temperament	Aggressive	Semi-aggressive
Swims at	All levels	Bottom
Group	Groups of 6+	One per tank
Diet	Herbivore	Carnivore

Better tank mates for african cichlids

All african cichlid tank mates

Better tank mates for black ghost knives

All black ghost knife tank mates

Questions

Can african cichlids live with black ghost knives?

No. African cichlids and black ghost knives should not share a tank. An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches african cichlids do.

What temperature suits both african cichlids and black ghost knives?

75–82 °F. African cichlids need 75–82 °F, black ghost knives need 73–82 °F.

What size tank do african cichlids and black ghost knives need together?

At least 125 gal, set by the black ghost knife. Add space for each extra fish.