Black ghost knifefish

The black ghost knifefish reaches about 50 cm total length in the wild and is one of the most distinctive freshwater fish in the hobby — an elongate, ribbon-like body in deep velvety black with two white bands on the tail and a white blaze on the snout. It comes from the Amazon and Orinoco basins across much of northern South America. Aquadiction recommends a minimum of 450 litres for one fish, with a long, broad swimming area and no sharp decorations that could injure its scale-less body. Temperature of 23–28 °C and pH 6.0–8.0 suit it. It navigates and hunts using a weak electrical field; the body contains electroreceptors that sense disturbances in the field. Diet is carnivorous — bloodworm, chopped prawn, earthworms, and frozen foods; some individuals can be weaned onto sinking pellets; verify feeding after purchase. It is peaceful toward fish too large to swallow but will eat small tankmates. It is nocturnal and appreciates secure retreats; do not make hand feeding a condition of successful care. FishBase records it from rapidly flowing creeks, so a blanket warning against strong filtration is misleading. Provide effective filtration and oxygenation alongside sheltered resting places, and judge the fish's behaviour rather than equating filter capacity with an unavoidable current problem.