Recently i purchased 3 black ghost knifefish from the local fish shop. They didn't want to eat and they just laid at the bottom of the tank or they were just hiding behind the filter. After 2 days later all 3 died. Just asking, do the fishes come to the surface and eat ? I tried everything. Bloodworms, pellets and flakes but they didn't eat. I even tried to place the worm in front of their mouth. What could have resulted in their death? I added anti-chlorine, could that have led to their death ? I had floating plant, tubes and gravel in the tank.
2007-09-24 01:17:48 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
From the way you phrase your question, it sounds as if you just set your tank up and dumped these fish in without cycling it. Most fish wouldn't survive that.
If that is the case, then there is your answer. Do some research on cycling your tank before you get anymore fish. It's really a terrible way to die.
2007-09-24 05:03:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Black knife fish did best for me when there was only one in a tank. Not that they fight, just that they stress. They are bottom feeders so bloodworms, and sinking pellets are best, they are not top feeders. A Tube (we used see through habitrail tubes made stationary with gravel- they don't seem to know we can see them when they're in one) at the bottom of the tank will give a single one a place to hide. Also, consistent water temperature around 70-74 degrees is necessary. Check the location of your tank to make sure there are no drafts that can make the temperature fluctuate.
If you've done all this, they just stressed.
2007-09-24 11:35:59 · answer #2 · answered by mactekvic 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, because they navigate using an electrical field, there should only be one of these in a tank. As adults, they would have been aggressive with each other.
To your immediate question, most fish won't eat right away when they're moved, so I don't know if the lack of eating may have been because they were such a recent addition to your tank. They usually eat bloodworms (the frozen ones, anyway). But I've never seen them come to the surface to eat if there was food they could get on the bottom. Because of sensitivity to light, they may eat mostly at night.
It's natural for them to hide - they're sensitive to light. The filter may have been the only dark spot they could find. These should have a well planted tank, or have a lot of floating plants, if you keep the light over the tank on.
Because they don't have scales, these fish tend to be sensitve to medications, salt and poor water quality. If you had them for about a week in a small tank, the ammonia they produced as part of their wastes may have poisoned them. See the info I've posted in the links below:
2007-09-24 08:40:49 · answer #3 · answered by copperhead 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
certainly they like a higher ph range and an established tank.
over 13 years, i have had around 50 of these fishes as they were very of interset with me, the first ones i had, didnt make it either.
Basically you must have a good solid water temp as they can easly put into shock, also they need areas to hide. pipes and structures are a must in my opinion. open areas, they will kinda lay there and die. Thats what i have noticed.
it doesnt sound like you dont have structures.
Also they will eat bloodworms. at first they will eat only from the bottom. but some of them that i have had for 5 years, learned to come up to the top.
anyway, i hope you have a large tank, my largest black ghost was around 21 inches and lived for about 8 years. i currently have round 10 small ones, 6-7 inches. i also bought 2 more young ones yesterday.
But established tanks are usually the key.
2007-09-24 15:42:53 · answer #4 · answered by Coral Reef Forum 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋