so I recently got a brown knifefish. I also got a clear tube made for this species because the lady at the store said they would need one, but ever since her has been placed into my tank he has just swam to and fro and doesnt even use it. the other fish tend to play in it but he ignores it what should i do?
brown knifefish questions
- Thread starter tabbykay
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brown knifefish are nocturnal and and sort-of blind so they hide during the day and feel safe even if the tube is clear. (Its clear so you can enjoy watching him during his sleeping hours!) As long as he has a place he can hide at you dont necessarily need that tube. Though he might decide thats his favorite spot soon.
lol as of now he has tried to take over the angels territory which they dont seem to mind sharing. but as of the nocturnal thing he is always so active i figured he would be scared and shy when we first put him in but he ate and explored and wasnt shy at all it has been almost four days and he still seems to be just going everywhere even when the lights are on and eats in the afternoon with the rest of the fish. i just didnt want his activity to be a sign of discomfort
the rule of thumb i have encountered (btw i have 2 black ghost knives) is a knife fish needs a hiding spot he can hide head to tail in and twice as wide as he is tall (top to bottom, NOT head to tail!)
there is many other places to hide in the tank besides the tube many nooks and cranies and such so i guess thinking about it now he has so many places to choose from he really isnt interested in the tube but he may so ill leave it be or move its postion in the tank to a spot he likes better
Well as long as there is a hiding spot or two he should be good. It could also just mean he is does feel secure and is just exploring his spaces! Some say when there are enough spaces to hide they will come out in the open because they feel that it would be easy to hide quickly
e really seems happy even when we put him in he didnt immediately hide or anything which shocked me so maybe i got worried but i think we just got luck and he is at home and happy.
That is a Brown African Knife fish. They won't use a tube. They need a cave or wide driftwood to hide under. The black ghost knife and brown ghost knife use electrical impulses like sonar due to poor eyesight. They sense the tube and will hide in it. Brown African Knife fish have good eyesight.
I had 6 of them in a tank for quite a few years. They got to be about 5-6" long and loved to chase/eat feeder guppies. They seemed to do good if by themselves or in a group of 4 or more. In a group they will hunt in a pack. Kind of neat to watch.
I had 6 of them in a tank for quite a few years. They got to be about 5-6" long and loved to chase/eat feeder guppies. They seemed to do good if by themselves or in a group of 4 or more. In a group they will hunt in a pack. Kind of neat to watch.
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