Elephantnose Fish
From Microcosm Aquarium Explorer
Fascinating fish, but not easily kept in the aquarium. JJPhoto.dk
[edit] Overview
A curious fish, but one that often fails to thrive in home aquariums. It has an electric organ at the base of its tail and discharges mild shock waves when searching for live prey and communicating with other Elephantnoses.
Best reserved for experienced aquarists.
Family: Mormyridae
Other common name(s):
- Elephantfish, Elephantnose
- Baby Whale
Native range:
Habitat: Soft bottoms of rivers and streams.
Maximum length: 35 cm (14 in)
Minimum aquarium size: 209 L (55 gal)
Water: Freshwater 22 °C (295 K, 72 °F) - 28 °C (301 K, 82 °F)
General swimming level: Bottom to midwater.
[edit] Feeding
Mostly feeds at night, grazing in soft substrates with its long proboscis hunting for live worms, insects, and crustaceans.
[edit] Aquarium Compatibility
Can be scrappy toward its own kind, but some keepers recommend assembling schools of three to five or more in a large aquarium devoted to this group.
[edit] Breeding/Propagation
Not reported in captivity. Some family members are known to make spawning migrations in tune with seasonal flooding in the wild.
| Common name | Elephantnose Fish +, Elephantfish, Elephantnose +, and Baby Whale + |
| Family | Mormyridae + |
| Genus | Gnathonemus + |
| Image credit | JJ + |
| Maximum length | 14 in + |
| Minimum aquarium size | 55 gal + |
| Native range | Africa +, Congo River +, and Niger River + |
| Reference | 101 Best Tropical Fishes + |
| Specific name | petersii + |
| Swimming level | Bottom to midwater. + |
| Text credit | KW + |
| Water max temp | 301 K (28 °C, 82 °F) + |
| Water min temp | 295 K (22 °C, 72 °F) + |
| Water type | Freshwater + |