Gnathonemus petersii - Elephant nose

Scientific name: Gnathonemus petersii
Common name: Long-nosed elephant fish, Elephant nose
Group: Other fishes
Habitat: Congo, Niger
Size: 25-30 cm
Biotope: Slow moving water, with submerged wood and plants.
Social behavior: The Elephant Nose is peaceful with other community fish, but territorial with others ofits own species. Do not combine with aggressive species (Cichlids) for the Elephant Nose may not be ableto compete for food.Do not keep in pairs as the weaker fish may be harassed. The Elephant Nose can be combined ingroups of three or more because the aggression is dispersed. A nocturnal species.
Diet: Live, Tubifex , other worms, insect larvae, Artemia, occasionally flakes. Feed after the lights are off.
Breeding: This species has not been bred in captivity.
Tank: Minimum 300 litres
Population: 4-5 fishes for 300 litres
Decoration: The tank should be well-planted and muted lightingshould be used.Provide overturned flower pots, pipes, caves, or tubes for each fish to serve as a retreat. Usefine gravel or sand as a substrate.Furnish the tank with wood and rocks.
Temperature: 23-28 °C
pH: 5,5-6,5
Hardness: 4,5-8,4NK°

Description: There is no other fish that even closely resembles the Elephant nose. The top and bottom profiles are almost identical, which come to an end in a forked shaped caudal fin (Tail.) The small Dorsal fin is located at the end of the body, it to is mirrored by the anal fin. The most distinguishing trait of the fish is its' mouth. It is located at the eye level and the lower jaw section extends into a moveable trunk like extension. Guess where the common name comes from.

Overall the color of the fish is a dark Brown or Black color. There are a pair of somewhat yellow vertical bands that extend from the back of the dorsal to the Anal fin. Not a stunning fish as far as color goes, but nice in its own right.

The Elephant Nose are shy by nature and will require a well planted aquarium, with subdued lighting and a soft substrate. You must include hiding places in the form of clay pipes, rockwork or driftwood. They should be kept singly as they are somewhat aggressive to their own species. Nocturnal in nature they will become more active at dusk and start looking for food, it is important to provide this to them after the lights come out. Given time they will become active with the other fish with the lights on. Feed them with Tubifex worms, Mosquito larva and Bloodworms. They are a member of the electric fish family and emit a small electrical charges that change with their mood. They are very sensitive to water quality and I have read that some municipal water companies use them as a gauge of water purity.

Sexual difference's and breeding are unknown at this time, but it is said that they construct floating nest that slowly float with the water and the frys' first food develop in the nest as well.