Can honey gouramis live with black ghost knives?
Verdict
No
No. Honey gouramis 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 honey gouramis do.
What to watch
- Deal breakerAn adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches honey gouramis do.
- Watch outBlack ghost knives are much bigger and pushier than honey gouramis, which are slow and easy to bully at feeding time.
- Watch outBlack ghost knives grow to 15 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for honey gouramis.
What works
- Both are fine at 73–82°F.
- pH 6–7.5 suits both.
- They use different parts of the tank: honey gouramis the top, black ghost knives the bottom.
Water side by side
Size to scale
Care at a glance
| Honey gourami | Black ghost knife | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 72–82 °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 | Top | Bottom |
| Group | Alone or in pairs | One per tank |
| Diet | Omnivore | Carnivore |
Better tank mates for honey gouramis
Better tank mates for black ghost knives
All black ghost knife tank mates
Questions
Can honey gouramis live with black ghost knives?
No. Honey gouramis 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 honey gouramis do.
What temperature suits both honey gouramis and black ghost knives?
73–82 °F. Honey gouramis need 72–82 °F, black ghost knives need 73–82 °F.
What size tank do honey gouramis and black ghost knives need together?
At least 125 gal, set by the black ghost knife. Add space for each extra fish.













