Elephant Nose

Other Breeds

Keeshond   |   Palomino   |   Pig – Pot Bellied   |  

Alternative Name

African Elephant Nose Fish, Dolphin Fish Scientific Name: Gnathonemus petersii

Basic Info

The Elephant Nose gets its name from the 'trunk' on its head. This trunk is used to dig and find food. The Elephant Nose has a long, flat, rectangular body. They are mostly silver-gray, with greenish fins and blue shading towards the front of their body. At maturity, the Elephant Nose will reach a size of roughly ten inches, which makes it a large fish.

Health

The Elephant Nose is a fairly easy fish to care for. They are scavengers, and should be fed live and frozen brine shrimp, blood worms, glass worms, and tubifex worms. Freeze dried and flake foods can be fed occasionally. They are nocturnal, and should be fed at night. Elephant Nose Fish should be kept in water with a temperature between 72 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. The pH level should be between six and seven. Elephant Nose Fish are very sensitive to chemicals, so if treating an illness, be careful as to which treatment to use. Breeding The breeding patterns of the Elephant Nose are unknown, and the sexes are indistinguishable.

Habitat

Fresh water fish

Behavior

Elephant Nose Fish have the largest brain for their size. The Elephant Nose is a very exotic fish. It has a very unique body, which makes it a highly desired aquarium fish. The Elephant Nose is semi-aggressive. They will accept some fish, but others will be chased away. Elephant Nose Fish will tend to find a 'spot' in the aquarium, and they will defend that spot as their own. If you want more than one Elephant nose you should get more than three. In groups of three or less, strongest one will usually make the others miserable. In larger groups they tend to leave each other alone, provided they are not over crowded. If you should decide to keep more than three of these fish, they should be housed in a tank that is at least 100-gallons. In smaller tanks they usually start to fight over territory. Elephant Nose Fish can defend themselves with an electrical charge. They can also use electric pulses to communicate with other fish, as well as navigate their environment. Elephant Nose Fish should be kept in large aquariums, with dense plant and rock decoration. The Elephant Nose needs plenty of places to hide during the day, such as caves. Also, live plants are much preferred by the Elephant Nose. It has also been reported that they like blue light and will come out more often when it is used.

Origin

Africa

History

The Elephant Nose Fish, or Gnathonemus petersii, is from the tropical climate countries of Cameroon, Nigeria, and Zaire.

Common Foods

N/A