🐡 Black Ghost Knifefish Apteronotus albifrons

The Black Ghost Knifefish (Apteronotus albifrons) is a moderate-care, semi-aggressive species from South America. Adults reach roughly 18", so plan on a minimum tank of 120 gallons. Keep the water between 73–82°F with a pH of 6–7.5. It does not school and can be kept singly or in species-appropriate numbers. It is predatory and will eat fish small enough to fit in its mouth. As a carnivore, it does best on a varied diet appropriate to its feeding style.

At a glance

Good tankmates for Black Ghost Knifefish

Common PlecoGiant GouramiRopefishRoyal Pleco (L190)

Avoid these tankmates

Neon TetraCardinal TetraRummynose TetraBlack Skirt TetraSerpae TetraGuppyEndler's LivebearerPlatyMollySwordtailBetta (male)AngelfishDiscusGerman Blue RamBolivian RamApistogrammaKribensisConvict CichlidZebra DanioHarlequin RasboraChili RasboraCherry BarbTiger BarbRosy BarbWhite Cloud MinnowDwarf GouramiPearl GouramiThree-Spot GouramiBronze CoryPanda CoryOtocinclusBristlenose PlecoKuhli LoachClown LoachPictus CatfishCherry ShrimpAmano ShrimpNerite SnailMystery SnailMarble HatchetfishEmber TetraBlack Neon TetraLemon TetraGlowlight TetraCongo TetraBloodfin TetraDiamond TetraBuenos Aires TetraEmperor TetraSilver Tip TetraX-Ray TetraGreen Neon TetraCelestial Pearl DanioLambchop RasboraScissortail RasboraPearl DanioGiant DanioGlowlight DanioGold BarbOdessa BarbDenison BarbCheckerboard BarbFive-Banded BarbBoesemani RainbowfishNeon Dwarf RainbowfishMadagascar RainbowfishThreadfin RainbowfishCelebes RainbowfishHoney GouramiSparkling GouramiMoonlight GouramiChocolate GouramiParadise FishKeyhole CichlidFiremouth CichlidJack DempseyGreen TerrorSeverumElectric Blue AcaraBlue AcaraRainbow CichlidYellow Lab CichlidDemasoni CichlidAcei CichlidAuratus CichlidPeacock CichlidMultifasciatusJulidochromisPygmy CorySterbai CoryJulii CoryGlass CatfishUpside-Down CatfishYoyo LoachZebra LoachDojo LoachHillstream LoachRubber Lip PlecoClown PlecoSiamese Algae EaterChinese Algae EaterRainbow SharkRed Tail SharkFlying FoxDwarf PufferfishFigure-8 PufferAfrican Butterfly FishGolden Wonder KillifishLeast KillifishCommon GoldfishFancy GoldfishRosy Red MinnowGhost ShrimpBamboo ShrimpCrystal Red ShrimpAssassin SnailRamshorn SnailMalaysian Trumpet SnailRabbit SnailGold TetraPenguin TetraRed Eye TetraFlame TetraBleeding Heart TetraColombian TetraBucktooth TetraSilver DollarGalaxy RasboraPhoenix RasboraEmerald Eye RasboraAxelrod's RasboraLeopard DanioGold Ring DanioRuby BarbMelon BarbTurquoise RainbowfishForktail Blue-eyeRed RainbowfishSnakeskin GouramiLicorice GouramiCroaking GouramiThick-Lipped GouramiPeaceful BettaStrawberry BettaGolden RamFlag AcaraGold SeverumChocolate CichlidFestivum CichlidSalvini CichlidYellow Dwarf CichlidAgassiz's Dwarf CichlidHongsloi CichlidCheckerboard CichlidElectric Yellow CichlidRed Zebra CichlidVenustus CichlidLivingstonii CichlidCompressed CichlidBrichardiCalvus CichlidTropheus DuboisiShell-DwellerEmerald CoryAlbino CoryThree-Striped CoryAdolfo's CoryHabrosus CoryStriped Raphael CatfishZebra OtoDwarf Chain LoachWeather LoachHorseface LoachLeopard Frog Pleco (L134)Zebra Pleco (L046)Gold Nugget Pleco (L177)Vampire ShrimpBlue Dream ShrimpYellow ShrimpBlack Diamond ShrimpBumblebee ShrimpRed Claw CrabLyretail KillifishClown KillifishRed SwordtailHigh-Fin PlatyBalloon MollySailfin MollyAmerican FlagfishIndian Glassfish

See the full tankmate guide for Black Ghost Knifefish →