Use our fish community creator tool to plan your tank set up and ensure that the elephant nose is the right. Elephant nose knifefish as you can see from the photos its quite a different fish. Elephant nose care how do i keep my elephant nose fish. Fish are sent with great care and are in great condition when packed, they will come with a 24 hour heatpack and are double bagged for extra security. Knifefish are scaleless, and are extremely sensitive to poor water conditions. The elephant nose which is also called peters elephant nose fish, long nosed elephant fish and ubangi mormyrid after the ubangi river is a very unusual looking fish. What looks to be the nose of an elephant is actually an extension of its mouth. Because they are very sensitive to changes in water conditions they are not a good idea for beginners and are best suited to larger tanks where stability is easier to maintain. Soft gravel is important to prevent the elephant nose from hurting its nose. Elephant nose for sale just above is an elephant nose for sale in our online store.
Remember the nose is quite sensitive and slightly long. They do very well up to now as long as you have a planted aquarium with several hiding places. In the home aquarium it is vitally important to provide a strong filter system capable of processing both the mechanical and biological filtration needs of such a large fish. The reason for this is theyre relatively sensitive to suboptimal habitat conditions. Elephant nose tropical fish keeping practical care. Hopefully, i get a 120 gallon fish tank within the next two weeks. Super cool peaceful oddball fish that is quite shy. Since the longnosed elephant fish has very poor vision, it uses the trunk or proboscis to locate its food. Peters elephantnose fish are native to the rivers of west and central africa, in particular the lower niger river basin, the ogun river basin and in the upper chari river.
Elephant nose feeding and care tropical fish forums. They are from the mormyridae family or electric fish they have the habit of releasing tiny electrical pulses from their nostrils. Jun 28, 2012 elephantnose fish evolved complex eyes to see in muddy water photonic crystals, parabolic mirrors help the fish evade predators in the murk. However, even before you begin to learn more about this fish and taking care, here is an important note for you this fish is quite complicated to maintain. This doesnt mean that the fish has heavy mind, it is really not easy for a rope fish to find food, when the smell comes from all sides.
This fish is a member of the group of fish called mormyrids. Elephantnose fish evolved complex eyes to see in muddy water. As i could not find a section for this could mods put this in the correct place if needed please. There seems to be a bunch of information on the elephant nose petersii fish, of which ive read a lot of. Info giraffe nosed catfish aquarium hobbyist resource and. Elephant nose, gnathonemus petersii with tropical aquarium. The elephant nose is nocturnal by nature and as a result is seen to become more active at dusk. An unusual eye structure helps elephantnose fish see in their dim habitat, researchers report. If your aquarium has been established for a year or more, everything is going well, and it is not overstocked, you could try to keep one or two elephant. Environment elephantnose fish can be kept in water of varying hardness but need it to be neutral or slightly acidic. Elephant nose fish everyone who has an aquarium at home wants to have such an exotic fish that is not too demanding. The basking shark is a classic example of why you should never judge a book by its cover. The coloration of the elephant nose cichlid is virtually identical to that of the polystigma.
Elephantnose fish see with their chin sciencedaily. The elephant nose fishes are nocturnal fishes that can live anywhere between 7 and 10 years, if taken care of well. The elephant nose is an intriguing fish that starts from the niger river and its tributaries in western africa. Buy an elephant nose fish at, an online retail tropical fish store, where you can shop online for elephant noses, gnathonemus petersi, is fun. With that being settled, we can move on to what secured this beast the number eight spot on the top ten creepiest fish in the world list.
It needs the perfect temperature, right light settings and a high degree of water quality to survive well within the tank. Being able to take care of a betta fish, means know. Origin habitat they are native to the slow, murky waters of africa, mainly around niger. As the latin name petersii confirms it is named after someone called peters probably wilhelm peters, although the apostrophe is often misplaced and the common. There are two gold gouramis living in the tank 25 gallon with him. The elephant nose is an interesting fish that originates from the niger river and its tributaries in western africa. It looks quite unusual due to construction of its mouth that is a trunklike and resembles elephant s nose. I was interested in getting one a few months ago, but never could find a place that carried them or any information on them id like to get. The elephant is a very intelligent fish as compared to other species. Elephant nose fish feeding, breeding and aquarium mates in.
We have a range of different care sheets available to download on our website. It is by far the largest family in the order with around 200 species. Its body is for the most part dark and is sporadically formed with a long tight tail and what seems to be its nose anyway this is really an augmentation of the fish s mouth. Jun 16, 2012 i went to an aquarium store the other day to pick up a few bichirs, and i noticed they had a few elephant nose knifefish sternarchorhnchus oxyrhynchus. Members of the family can be popular, if challenging, aquarium species. The baby whale im referring two is a mormyrid a freshwater, electric receptive fish out of africa. Scientists have now been able to show how well this works. Elephantnose fish or peters elephant nose fish gnathonemus petersii is a freshwater fish species of mormyridae family. Downloadable fish care fact sheets aquarium industries. Hello everyone fish tank anthusiast, today aquascape paludairum will discuss about keeping peters elephant nose fish care guide, so lets talk about how to care for peters elephant nose, ive also heard it called nigerian elephant nose, just the elephant nose, african elephant nose, but the main thing that goes by that, i can tell is peters elephant nose, so lets talk about this really. Thats right, its the ubangi mormyrid or as commonly called, peters elephant nose. For nice, detailed photos, check out the following link. The fish got its specific name in honor of german zoologist wilhelm peters 18151883.
Elephant nose care how do i keep my elephant nose fish happy. Elephant nose fish gnathonemus petersii elephant nose fish. Dec 08, 2012 any questions leve them in the comment i will be happy to answer them this is my second elephant nose this is my 50 gallon fish tank ive had it for over two years most of the fish or are at. The fierce look of this monster is the only thing that qualified it for the top ten creepiest fish. January mmh fish discount couponlets enjoy the first month of this year with this delightful coupon on every fish we sell on makemyhobby use this. Its better to feed the fish 1015 later after you finish feeding the rest of tank dwellers. Its body is mostly black and is irregularly shaped with a long narrow tail and nose in which it uses to forage for food.
We can combine shipping costs for other fish as well. One elephant nose was exactly what the profiles say, shy, wont come out much while the lights are on, and 2 of my baby whales are the same. African elephant nose tropical fish keeping aquarium fish. Being a shy animal, the elephant nose fish needs poor lighting conditions.
This fish needs perfect water and is somewhat intolerant to medication. Jun 28, 2012 an unusual eye structure helps elephantnose fish see in their dim habitat, researchers report. Peters elephantnose fish gnathonemus petersii is an african freshwater elephantfish in the genus gnathonemus. A guide on keeping elephant nose gnathonemus petersii. Gnathonemus rhynchophorus boulenger 1898, the sosha native name, or longnose elephantnose comes out of the congo basin, grows to about nine inches total length, and is one of the more common in other words one does find it pet fish mormyrids. These fish are also known for having large brain size and unusually high intelligence. This fish has a weak eyesight and must direct itself in the water by emitting electrical pulses. Sep 14, 2008 one elephant nose was exactly what the profiles say, shy, wont come out much while the lights are on, and 2 of my baby whales are the same. Top ten creepiest fish in the world all aquarium info. May 01, 2017 the nostrils nare of fish are used for the sense of smell, just like yours. Elephant nose fish tropical gnathonemus petersi ebay. Not sure why i waited so long as i instantly fell in love with this guy. Water quality, parameters, lighting, temperature, you name it. Aug 24, 2007 originating in central africa, peters elephantnose fish finds its bearings by means of weak electrical fields.
Let me make this clear, im not talking about an actual dolphin. This fish s long probe is quite flexible and controlled by the fish. A water quality problem will affect fish behaviour and can be. Housing yellow longnose butterflyfish in an aquarium smaller than 40 gallons 150 litres is not recommended. Peters elephant nose fish gnathonemus petersii is an african freshwater elephantfish in the genus gnathonemus. Elephantnose fish are thin and oblong, primarily dark brown or gray with white markings and a long trunklike nose, thus the name, elephantnose. Freshwater tropical fish oddball fish oddball aquatic life.
The elephant nose gnathonemus petersii fish is a freshwater fish from african that sports a highly unusual look. Premium quality elephant nose for sale just above is an elephant nose for sale in our online store. Unless youve a large enough tank i think 20 25 gallons elephant nose is suggested which is somewhat about territorial space rather than them simply being messy fish though as adults that 25gal fish rule would help with water parameters i think youd do best with a single fish re a group should contain at least 56 individuals. It is always important to include a lot of suitable hiding spots in the aquarium for this fish as well as open areas for swimming. These impulses detect and locate objects found under water, helping the fish to keep safe under water, and feed.
Jan 07, 2011 ok guys, ive had some issues with my first fish aquarium and paid my tuition to this field, i plan on getting it right the next time by doing it by the book. Driftwood is also always advised for bristle nose catfish. The elephant nose fish is very sensitive to its environment. Elephantnose fish care size, lifespan, tankmates, breeding. Elephant nose care is not terribly difficult if you know what youre doing, but its not a species you can keep on autopilot either. Elephant nose tropical fish learn all about the elephant nose s feeding habits and food types, its behaviour, its origins, its natural habitats, is it male or female, breeding advice and information, suitable tank mates, its sizing and growth range, minimum tank size, water ph and more. Any questions leve them in the comment i will be happy to answer them this is my second elephant nose this is my 50 gallon fish tank ive had it for over two years most of the fish or are at. The elephant nose fish, with its unique physical features, is sure to impress you a lot. Elephantnose fish can be kept in water of varying hardness but need it to be neutral or slightly acidic. In case something pricks it, an injury might occur.
They have special cuplike structures of rods and cones working together to. One of the electric fish, its pulses increase with degrading water quality. Feb 12, 2007 the elephant nose is an interesting fish that originates from the niger river and its tributaries in western africa. Our fish tank tips, water care guide and feeding overview provide a comprehensive look at pet parenting. Yet its characteristically shaped chin does not work like a particularly sensitive nose. This group covers a large range of species and consists of many weird and wonderful species such as elephant nose and black ghost knife fish. In aquarium it adjusts to day time feeding and displays well, even in the day. The trunk can grow to about 6 feet long and can weigh 300 pounds. The elephant nose is rather shy and very sensitive. Elephantnose fish are shy, sensitive fish, who need pristine water. This fish had giant fins, probably bigger than an overhalfmoon. However for now i have one elephant nose in a 30 gallon tank, i want to add more fish, my eventual tank will be a 75 gallon min and i. May 28, 2015 there are no bones in an elephants trunk, which is a fusion of its nose and upper lip.
Elephant nose with discus i currently have 2 elephant nose about 6 inches long with 2 medium discus inside a 55g. If your fish gasp for air or swim at the top, it can be lack of oxygen, poisoning, or gill worms. Water quality should be pristine, with undetectable ammonia and nitrites, and nitrates below 20 ppm. Jan 31, 2018 picked up my first elephant nose fish. Yeah i had an elephant ear male too and he didnt swim hardly at all except for food and he was in a 3 gallon tank. I was interested in getting one a few months ago, but never could find a place that carried them or any information on them. Elephantnosed fish has funky eyes, too live science.
The shortnosed unicornfish dwells in midwaters along steep outer lagoon, in rocky shore and seaward reef dropoffs, and prefers water temperatures ranging from 22. The main difference between the two being that the elephant nose cichlid possesses large lips, that when opened make the mouth look like a small trunk. Care sheets for tropical fish species aquarium industries. Ive been greatly interested in the mormyrus fish, specifically the elephant nose and the dolphin fish. Elephant nose gnathonemus petersii pet zone tropical fish. It prefers muddy, slowly moving rivers and pools with cover such as submerged branches. If these fish are kept with fish which are aggressive feeders they may struggle to gain enough food, this is especially true for the elephant noses.
Some fish love caves, however make sure that entrances are big enough for all of your fish. Keeping peters elephant nose fish care guide aquascape. These fish should be fed what they can eat within a few minutes 1 to 2 times a day. The only thing that will keep these fish alive inthe short term and help them avoid permanent damage to gills etc is freshwater. It possesses a weak electrical organ at the caudal peduncles which is used to locate food. They cover topics such as water chemistry as well as individual fish species.
They go by a number of additional common names, but the most popular are the longnosed elephant fish, ubangi mormyrid, elephant fish, and peters elephant nose fish named after the individual who discovered them. The family mormyridae, sometimes called elephantfish more properly freshwater elephantfish, are freshwater fish in the order osteoglossiformes native to africa. Why did i get the notification for this, i dont have your guys notifications on. The elephantnose fish, or peters elephant, are very unique fish that not many hobbyists can say they have. The fish may swim close to a large bloodworm and wont see it unless it touches the bloodworm with its barbels. The elephantfishes, family mormyridae, in aquariums. Ive had my african elephant nose fish ralph for about a month now.
Species in this group are sourced from tropical regions throughout the world, for this reason they are best kept in heated aquariums. How elephantnose fish switch between electrical, visual sense. Elephant nose fish feeding, breeding and aquarium mates. Because they are very sensitive to changes in water conditions they are not a good idea for beginners and are best suited. Here are some points that you should remember when taking care of the elephant nose and setting up its tank. Ok guys, ive had some issues with my first fish aquarium and paid my tuition to this field, i plan on getting it right the next time by doing it by the book. The elephant nose fish which is also known as peters elephant are rare fish. Elephant nose fish care and breeding guide the aquarium. If youre not about to choose fishless cycling, use some hardy fish such as goldfish or white cloud minnows when cycling a tank. If you buy a healthy fish and adequately care for it, then it will be able to please its owner for many years because, in captivity, pets live for at least ten years. They should be kept in groups or at least even pairs. Other than peaceful usually top off at 9 like a bgk wit electric stuff and mostly eats worms and small shrimp.
Do you own a 17 gallon 54 litre up to a 29 gallon 110 litre tank. However, there is barely any information on keeping the longirostris. Aquarium industries care sheets for tropical fish species. This trunklike extension is used for food foraging, communicating, navigating and self defense. Presently these fish are not being bred commercially so all the ones offered for sale are wild caught. In the aquarium, the most commonly kept species is gnathonemus petersii peters elephant nose. Always use a good water conditioner for this sensitive species.
Elephant nose fish are depicted in ancient egyptian tombs dating from around 2500 bc. Yeh ive had discus for many years and bred quite a few. Other names in english include elephantnose fish, longnosed elephant fish, and ubangi mormyrid, after the ubangi river. Although this fish is somewhat a challenge to have thrive in the aquarium, it can be the greatest interest and focal point. Click here to find out in depth information on the various aquarium freshwater fish and their habits. The pulses of the fish act according to their mood.
View profile view forum posts view blog entries registered member join date feb 2006 location puerto rico posts 3,743 itrader 1 100% re. Its body is mostly black and is irregularly shaped with a long narrow tail and what looks to be its nose however this is actually an extension of the fish s mouth. So no, unless you have fish that can handle the attacking kribs, you shouldnt keep them in pairs. So eventually he ended up eating his fins off a little and could somewhat swim better. These fish will only eat frozen food, and brine shrimp and bloodworms, and mosquito larvae seem to be the foods of choice. They have special cuplike structures of rods and cones working together to see in murky african waters. Using at least 40,000 different muscles, an elephant can lift over 700 pounds with its trunk. A 10 gallon tank is easy enough to change at least 2 gallons a day in. Needs several hiding places eg driftwood, cave like structures, dense planting. Instead, it contains more than 500 electric sensors.