{"product_id":"black-ghost-knife-apteronotus-albifrons","title":"Black Ghost Knife | Apteronotus albifrons","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Black Ghost Knife is one of the aquarium world's true oddballs - a velvet-black, ribbon-finned fish that glides forwards and backwards with equal ease and navigates by a weak electric field rather than sight. It is peaceful but grows large, reaching around 45-50cm, and will eat small fish, making it a sensitive, soft-water centrepiece for a spacious tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eApteronotus albifrons comes from the fast-flowing rivers and streams of tropical South America, across the Amazon and neighbouring basins. It shelters among roots, leaf litter and submerged wood by day, emerging at night to hunt over the substrate in warm, soft, slightly acidic water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA long, tapering, scaleless fish of deep matte black, typically marked with one or two pale rings on the tail and a white blaze on the head. Propulsion comes from a single long undulating fin running the length of the belly. Wild fish reach around 50cm, with aquarium specimens commonly 30-40cm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeaceful towards fish too large to swallow, but a natural predator that will eat small tankmates and can be territorial with its own kind. It is shy and nocturnal, appreciating caves, pipes or dense cover, and does best with medium-to-large, calm companions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA carnivore. Offer meaty foods such as bloodworm, blackworm, prawn, mussel and earthworm, alongside quality sinking carnivore pellets once accustomed. Feed in the evening when it becomes active, and take care that faster fish do not outcompete this deliberate feeder.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis fish needs a large tank with a soft substrate, subdued lighting and plenty of shaded hiding spots, plus immaculate, warm, soft, slightly acidic water. It is scaleless and therefore extra-sensitive to poor water quality, medications and salt, so stable conditions, strong filtration and low nitrate are essential. A long-term commitment given its adult size.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRarely bred in home aquaria. Commercial breeding is achieved with hormonal assistance in large ponds, and spontaneous captive spawning is very uncommon, so this is not a realistic project for most keepers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApteronotus albifrons\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlack Ghost Knifefish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSouth America (Amazon basin)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 45-50cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10-15 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful but predatory on small fish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e350 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e450 litres or more\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e23-28°C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0-7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2-12 dGH (soft to neutral)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLarge, soft-water tanks with calm tankmates\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes (may flatten loose plants)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMedium-to-large peaceful fish such as angelfish, larger gouramis, silver dollars, peaceful larger tetras, bristlenose and other calm catfish, and rainbowfish. Choose companions too big to be eaten but not aggressive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSmall fish and shrimp that will be eaten, and aggressive or very boisterous species that harass this shy, slow-moving fish or outcompete it for food. Avoid hard, alkaline or salty water.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232883196195,"sku":"AA1543","price":34.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232883228963,"sku":"BA8772","price":45.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55232883261731,"sku":"BA9082","price":45.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-40cm)","offer_id":55353178489123,"sku":"AA1543-XL","price":50.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Black_Ghost_Knife_2ab55c55-9f82-4fc4-b290-25256da32fa1.jpg?v=1781701796","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/black-ghost-knife-apteronotus-albifrons","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}