Can black ghost knives live with yellow labs?

Verdict

No. Black ghost knives and yellow labs should not share a tank. An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 4 inches yellow labs do.

Black ghost knife73–82°F · pH 6–8

Electric yellow cichlid75–82°F · pH 7.8–8.6

What to watch

Deal breakerAn adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 4 inches yellow labs do.

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

	Black ghost knife	Electric yellow cichlid
Temperature	73–82 °F	75–82 °F
pH	6–8	7.8–8.6
Adult size	15.0 in	4.0 in
Minimum tank	125 gal	40 gal
Temperament	Semi-aggressive	Semi-aggressive
Swims at	Bottom	All levels
Group	One per tank	Groups of 4+
Diet	Carnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for black ghost knives

All black ghost knife tank mates

Better tank mates for yellow labs

All electric yellow cichlid tank mates

Questions

Can black ghost knives live with yellow labs?

No. Black ghost knives and yellow labs should not share a tank. An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 4 inches yellow labs do.

What temperature suits both black ghost knives and yellow labs?

75–82 °F. Black ghost knives need 73–82 °F, yellow labs need 75–82 °F.

What size tank do black ghost knives and yellow labs need together?

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