African Black Knife

Flipper · 12-16-2003, 09:42 AM

Can anyone tell me about this fresh water fish? Thanks!

Pro_builder · 12-16-2003, 10:24 AM

I know that they like to have tubes or caves to hide in. They ca nswimm forward, backward, up, down. They like frozen shrimp for food. They are a night fish, not out much during the day.
They are really cool to watch. I used to have one in my Freshwater setup.

Here is a link to them:
African Knifefish

Witfull · 12-16-2003, 10:26 AM

one of my fav freshies!! they are a shy poor eye sighted scaleless fish from the amazon basin. they hunt for prey and navigate by emmitting a low electrical field. they prefer a slightly acidic water with lots of caves. they come out more at night but will come out during the day if food is presented.
interesting side note,,,indians of the region believed the fish to be the spirits of their ancestors and never mosested the fish and if caught netting released it immediately and had to pray and make sacrifices inorder not to upset their loved ones.

edit: they are very suseptiple to medication burns...if treating the tank they are in use half dosage or remove from tank!

sharks · 12-16-2003, 11:32 AM

Great info Troy and Dave

I also love this fish and kept them in my community tank. Mind you they can eat small fish. I had a school of serape tetra’s, Jurupari’s, synodontis cats, clown loaches, and gaurami’s. One of my favorite tanks.

They can get big 8-12”. Mine went nuts for frozen bloodworms. But ate flake and pellets too.
Here is a nice page for you…

http://www.aquariumfish.net/catalog_...ican_black.htm

HIH
S

Maxx · 12-16-2003, 12:12 PM

Nice fish..Lots of personality. Everyone else gve you pretty much all the basics you need to keep it. They do jump from time to time.
Good luck,
Nick

Craig Manoukian · 12-16-2003, 03:58 PM

Cool, not a fresh water guy, but cool!

mwrager · 12-16-2003, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Witfull

interesting side note,,,indians of the region believed the fish to be the spirits of their ancestors and never mosested the fish and if caught netting released it immediately and had to pray and make sacrifices inorder not to upset their loved ones.

I did not know that Witfull, very good info. I know from having fresh water fish for years, this fish can be alot of fun.

SaltyQueen · 12-16-2003, 06:34 PM

I have one of these guys in my freshwater tank, and he is so cool to watch. I have one of these knife houses:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...1&N=2004&Nty=1

Their "radar" senses the tube as a cave, so they think they are hidden in it, allowing you to view them better!

Flipper · 12-17-2003, 10:27 AM

Very good info! Thanks to all!

12-16-2003, 09:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
Flipper Sturgeon General Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New York Posts: 156 View Gallery Karma Komment	African Black Knife Can anyone tell me about this fresh water fish? Thanks! __________________ View my photo gallery 55 Gallon, 80 lbs. Live Rock, 3.5" DSB, 1.024 @ 80 degrees, Yellow Tang, Goldbar Maroon Clownfish, Blue Velvet Damsel, 2 White-Bonnet Clownfish, 2 Scissortail Gobies, Royal Gramma, Echinaster luzonicus Star, Red Linkia Star, Brittle Star, Pepermint Shrimp, Green Mushrooms, Protopalythoa Button Polyp colony, Feather Duster. Ocean Futures

12-16-2003, 10:24 AM	#2 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	I know that they like to have tubes or caves to hide in. They ca nswimm forward, backward, up, down. They like frozen shrimp for food. They are a night fish, not out much during the day. They are really cool to watch. I used to have one in my Freshwater setup. Here is a link to them: African Knifefish __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

12-16-2003, 11:32 AM	#4 (permalink)
sharks Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: NJ Posts: 843 View Gallery Karma Komment	Great info Troy and Dave I also love this fish and kept them in my community tank. Mind you they can eat small fish. I had a school of serape tetra’s, Jurupari’s, synodontis cats, clown loaches, and gaurami’s. One of my favorite tanks. They can get big 8-12”. Mine went nuts for frozen bloodworms. But ate flake and pellets too. Here is a nice page for you… http://www.aquariumfish.net/catalog_...ican_black.htm HIH S __________________ The sea monkey has my money 220G fish only tank ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 120G Reef 2 250W 65K MH’s. 2 VHO Actinics LifeReef filter/skimmer/20G REF 200LB Kaelini Rock . 2-3” DSB. Various, LPS, SPS, clams, leathers, and others Numerous fish ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> View my Photo Gallery><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>

12-16-2003, 12:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
Maxx Manta Ray Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: St Louis Mo Posts: 3,080 View Gallery Karma Komment	Nice fish..Lots of personality. Everyone else gve you pretty much all the basics you need to keep it. They do jump from time to time. Good luck, Nick __________________ "Chaos, confusion, despair...my work is done here." ...Some guy named Murphy.... A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!" Reef Sanctuary Knowledgebase (Answers to all your questions and then some!)

12-16-2003, 03:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
Craig Manoukian Regular Guy Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Marina Del Ray, CA Posts: 19,012 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Cool, not a fresh water guy, but cool! __________________ Currently tankless. 20 Gallon mini reef with mated pair of Maroon Clowns given to Rougiem! 80 gallon reef given to Rougiem/Wooster HS.

12-16-2003, 06:34 PM	#8 (permalink)
SaltyQueen Scopas Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 400 View Gallery Karma Komment	I have one of these guys in my freshwater tank, and he is so cool to watch. I have one of these knife houses: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...1&N=2004&Nty=1 Their "radar" senses the tube as a cave, so they think they are hidden in it, allowing you to view them better!

12-17-2003, 10:27 AM	#9 (permalink)
Flipper Sturgeon General Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New York Posts: 156 View Gallery Karma Komment	Very good info! Thanks to all! __________________ View my photo gallery 55 Gallon, 80 lbs. Live Rock, 3.5" DSB, 1.024 @ 80 degrees, Yellow Tang, Goldbar Maroon Clownfish, Blue Velvet Damsel, 2 White-Bonnet Clownfish, 2 Scissortail Gobies, Royal Gramma, Echinaster luzonicus Star, Red Linkia Star, Brittle Star, Pepermint Shrimp, Green Mushrooms, Protopalythoa Button Polyp colony, Feather Duster. Ocean Futures

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