Can harlequin rasboras live with black ghost knives?
Verdict
No
No. Harlequin rasboras and black ghost knives should not share a tank. An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches harlequin rasboras do.
What to watch
- Deal breakerAn adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches harlequin rasboras do.
- Watch outBlack ghost knives grow to 15 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for harlequin rasboras.
What works
- Both are fine at 73–80°F.
- pH 6–7.5 suits both.
- They use different parts of the tank: harlequin rasboras the mid, black ghost knives the bottom.
Water side by side
Size to scale
Care at a glance
| Harlequin rasbora | Black ghost knife | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 72–80 °F | 73–82 °F |
| pH | 6–7.5 | 6–8 |
| Adult size | 2.0 in | 15.0 in |
| Minimum tank | 10 gal | 125 gal |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Semi-aggressive |
| Swims at | Middle | Bottom |
| Group | Groups of 6+ | One per tank |
| Diet | Omnivore | Carnivore |
Better tank mates for harlequin rasboras
All harlequin rasbora tank mates
Better tank mates for black ghost knives
All black ghost knife tank mates
Questions
Can harlequin rasboras live with black ghost knives?
No. Harlequin rasboras and black ghost knives should not share a tank. An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches harlequin rasboras do.
What temperature suits both harlequin rasboras and black ghost knives?
73–80 °F. Harlequin rasboras need 72–80 °F, black ghost knives need 73–82 °F.
What size tank do harlequin rasboras and black ghost knives need together?
At least 125 gal, set by the black ghost knife. Add space for each extra fish.













