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Breeding / Rarely bred at home
Black ghost knifefish
Rarely bred at home · Hard

Breeding the black ghost knifefish

Not bred in home aquariums; it is bred commercially in large outdoor ponds in Indonesia.

Full species page

Step by step

Pairing

Buy several juveniles and grow them out. Visible sex differences are small, so you may need many fish to get a pair.

Breeding tank

A large, dim tank (400+ L) with PVC tubes, caves and fine plants. Soft, slightly acidic water.

What starts it

Rainy-season-style changes: cooler water changes, plenty of live food and dim light.

Eggs and young

Reported fecundity is about 1 to 105 eggs per spawn; no reliable hatch time found.

Raising the fry

Fry eat newly hatched brine shrimp and microworms. They are delicate in the first weeks.

Common mistakes
  • Using bright light
  • Adding salt or harsh medicine
  • Housing with aggressive tank mates

Male or female

  • Male: Larger, longer snout
  • Female: Smaller
  • Hard

Can I breed it in my tank?

  • This species is rarely bred in home tanks.
  • Hard: for experienced breeders.