Have A Happy Halloween With A Graceful Ghost

With its good looks and friendly disposition, the Black Ghost Knifefish (Apteronotus albifrons) makes an interesting and beautiful addition to any large community tropical aquarium. But despite its normally shy and peaceful demeanour, it harbours a surprisingly spooky secret.

Sometimes simply known as a "Black Ghost" this fish is found throughout much of the South American Amazon and its tributaries and can grow up to 20 inches long during its normal lifespan of up to 15 years. With a flat, elongated body and a continuously undulating fin along its underside, its movements can only be described as graceful.

Yet the Black Ghost could be a ghost in more than name alone - varying reports describe how some native Amazonian tribes revere these fish as holy, believing that the spirits of their departed relatives live within them. They therefore leave them unmolested and this may even explain why they are infrequently imported at an adult size, as some natives might witness a capture and take offence.

Legends aside, this fish is appropriately nocturnal and preys on insect larvae, insects, worms and small fish. Due to its dark natural habitat and relatively poor vision, the Black Ghost relies on a built-in ‘radar’ system that uses a low-voltage electrical field to help it navigate and detect objects and movements around it.