Black knife question

[smaug]

I just got a black knife last saturday.Ihave a few questions on what there normal hanging out/loafing swimming activity might look like.He seemed fine up till today and just a few minutes ago I noticed hime lying on his sidefor a minute or so at a time.He also seems to hover tilted to his side to almost 90deg.He looks otherwise fairly healthy.

[cocoa_pleco]

mine did that for a while too, just make sure hes disease free. im sure its nothing

[Kuli_Loach]

I agree, do you have hiding places for him? They need hiding places or they will get very stressed, try a ghost tube.

[cocoa_pleco]

ditto with a hiding place. they literally need one.

I housed a large catfish with my ghost knife, and until the catfish got large they fought about a cave. my ghost knife spent alot of time in his cave. a piece of driftwood also works for hiding.

you also can get a product called "hide-a-ghost" which is a clear tube for him to sit in

[Kuli_Loach]

you also can get a product called "hide-a-ghost" which is a clear tube for him to sit in
Thats what I was calling a ghost tube, but anything cave like or to break up there appearance will help.

[dishmando]

normal activity i say. mine, at 6-7" now will do the craziest things, he loves swimming backwards for some odd reason, and as for the floating, he'll float upside down at times or sideways! its all good, im not worried.
With regards to buying tubes and whatnot, i used an old Python siphon tube(12") and sat it right up front the aquarium. Whats so cool now is that he stays afloat in that tube most of the night when the lights are on. Before that, he always hid in a car i have for an ornament.

good luck

[smaug]

thanks to everyone for the advice even you khuli:c5: ,hes still alive and still hangin out on his side.

[Kuli_Loach]

No problem, what do you have for hiding places?

[smaug]

just a final update on my knife fish,he is fine.For the past few days he has been flitting around the bottom eating like a pig.He does like to sleep on his side.As`it turns out I may have had a little to much water movement in my tank for him to swim straight.i have turned it back a bit and he does much better.

[Futureboy]

Ive been told they like caves more then tubes if that helps

i trick i read awhile ago said to put a peice of slate leaning on the front glass to make alitte tunnel

and if your ghostie likes it he will hide in it giving you a perfect veiw of him front and center

[smaug]

Thats a good idea with the slate against the glass.That I will try,thanks.He really isnt lacking for a hiding place. my tank is planted so thick its like a jungle you really have to look hard to find most of the fish.

[smaug]

just an update on my knife fish,last saturday I saw that he was covered in ick!I started meds on the whole tank the same day.As of today he looks clear of it and none of his tank mates were affected.BTW I did put a tube in for him and he wont go near it,he seems to like hanging out in the ludwigia thicket,he reminds me of a snake the way he lays in the branches.

[smaug]

Ive talked about him enough,I finally have a pic of him.
3596

[tropfish]

wow, awesome fish! :thumb:

[smaug]

thanks!I really like him,Ive waited awhile to take the chance and buy one.

[cocoa_pleco]

awesome! reminds me so much of my old one. i wonder where my old one is right now? i sold him 3 years ago

[smaug]

how big did he get,how old?Was he predatory?

[cocoa_pleco]

he got to be a few years old, and a REALLY good size, not quite fullgrown though. i bought him at a early age and raised him in the same tank all of his life, and he was always peaceful to all fish.

when i quit fishkeeping 3 years ago i sold all of my tanks (about 10 total, i wish i could have knocked some sense into me) and all of my fish. i remember when i got ready to sell them it was pouring rain outside. i had them in 5g buckets, about 10 of them, and off they went.

the 3 i would really like to see again are my catfish, african butterfly, and black ghost knife

[Futureboy]

A very nice fish

Looks about the same size as mine maybe alittle bigger

[smaug]

FINAL update for sure:scry: I got home from work today and discovered my leopard plec eating him!He died sometime today.Yesterday he was sluggish but I honestly thought nothing of it.He was a very ineresting interactive fish.I dont know if Ill get another or not.