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Elephantnose fish
Gnathonemus petersii
22.5 cm
Adult size
300 L
Minimum volume
1
Minimum group
12 years
Lifespan
Water parameters
Understand these values- Genus
- Gnathonemus
- Diet
- carnivore
- Social life
- solitary
In the wild
Overview
The elephantnose fish, the most common of the Mormyridae in the hobby, probes the substrate with its “trunk”, an extension of the lower jaw. It emits weak electric discharges that help it find prey and communicate with others of its kind.
- Scientific name
- Gnathonemus petersii (Günther, 1862)
- Classification
- Osteoglossiformes › Mormyridae
- IUCN Red List
- Least concern (LC)
Natural habitat
Africa: from the Niger basins to the Congo basin
Observations (GBIF) and localities Native countries Rivers and lakes
It lives near the bottom in calm, heavily vegetated stretches of rivers, over dark, muddy bottoms. It hunts mainly at night, for worms and insects.
Behaviour
Calm but territorial and aggressive towards its own kind and other Mormyridae, it is peaceful with other species. Keep it with calm African fish (butterflyfish, Congo tetras, Synodontis, Ctenopoma). It needs a fine, soft substrate, dim light and plenty of hiding places, otherwise it wastes away. It loves worms.
Sources:FishBase Seriously Fish GBIF · Base map: Natural Earth