Black ghost knife care

Water temperature

73–82°F

A black ghost knife wants water at 73–82°F, pH 6–8, and a tank of 125 gallons or bigger. Good tank mates include oscars, bala sharks, kissing gouramis.

Nocturnal and grows long. Eats small fish at night.

Apteronotus albifrons

pH

6–8

Minimum tank

125 gal

Adult size

15.0 in

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

Group

One per tank

Lifespan

10–15 years

Swims at

Bottom

Diet

Carnivore

Best tank mates

• OscarYes
• Bala sharkYes
• Kissing gouramiYes
• SeverumYes
• BichirYes
• Elephant nose fishYes
• KoiYes
• Common plecoYes
• Tinfoil barbYes
• Chinese algae eaterYes
• Clown loachYes

Full black ghost knife tank mate chart: 11 yes, 6 with care, 81 no

Black ghost knife water compared

Fish to keep away from black ghost knives

• Betta An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches bettas do.
• Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); black ghost knives need 73–82°F. No temperature suits both.
• Pea puffer An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 1 inches pea puffers do.
• Angelfish An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 6 inches angelfish do.
• Guppy An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches guppies do.
• Honey gourami An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches honey gouramis do.
• Goldfish Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); black ghost knives need 73–82°F. They overlap only at 73–74°F, the edge of both ranges.
• Tiger barb An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3 inches tiger barbs do.

More oddballs

• Pea puffer74–82°F
• Bichir72–82°F
• Killifish70–77°F
• Elephant nose fish73–82°F
• Silver arowana75–86°F