Eastern bottlenose mormyrid
Mormyrus longirostris
Also known as Eastern bottlenose elephant fish, Dolphin mormyrid
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–82°F (24–28°C)
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 29.5 in (75 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 185 gal (700 L)
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- Tankmates with caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Origin
- Zambezi and East African lakes
- Family
- Mormyridae
Overview
A very large, gentle elephantfish for pond-scale aquariums only. It is best kept singly, since it does not tolerate others of its kind, and any tankmates must be chosen with caution: large, calm, and not inclined to nip or compete. Give it a big footprint of soft sand to plough with its long snout, wood for cover, dim light, and rock-solid water quality. Feed meaty sinking foods such as earthworm, prawn, and mussel after dark. At around 75 cm it needs a tank on the order of 700 liters or considerably more.
In the wild
Mormyrus longirostris is found in the lower and middle Zambezi and in the lakes and rivers of the Zambian Congo system in eastern and southern Africa, foraging over soft bottoms. Recreate that with a deep sand bed, gentle current, subdued light, and generous swimming room. Keep the water warm at 24-28 C and soft to neutral, around pH 6-7.5, and extremely stable. As with all mormyrids, avoid copper-based medications.
Good to know
This member of the family Mormyridae grows to about 75 cm and can weigh as much as 10 kg, carrying the down-swept bottlenose snout typical of the genus Mormyrus. It navigates and feeds using a weak electric field generated by an organ in the tail. It is a food and sport fish across its range. Its breeding is not recorded in the aquarium.
Did you know
The appealing juveniles sold for aquariums grow into fish that can top ten kilograms, about the weight of a large housecat, which is why this is really a species for public displays rather than living rooms.
Common questions
What size tank does an Eastern bottlenose mormyrid need?
An Eastern bottlenose mormyrid needs at least 185 gal (700 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH do Eastern bottlenose mormyrid need?
Eastern bottlenose mormyrid are comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
How big do Eastern bottlenose mormyrid get?
An adult Eastern bottlenose mormyrid reaches about 29.5 in (75 cm).
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Freshwater fish · Advanced fish · Bottom dwellers · Monster fish
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Related species
West African bottlenose mormyrid
Mormyrus rumeFreshwater31.5 in (80 cm)185 gal (700 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Nile bottlenose mormyrid
Mormyrus kannumeFreshwater35.4 in (90 cm)185 gal (700 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Bebe mormyrid
Hyperopisus bebeFreshwater20.1 in (51 cm)264 gal (1,000 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Elephant trunk mormyrid
Campylomormyrus elephasFreshwater15.7 in (40 cm)119 gal (450 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Painted mormyrid
Hippopotamyrus pictusFreshwater11.8 in (30 cm)159 gal (600 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Eel mormyrid
Isichthys henryiFreshwater11.4 in (29 cm)79 gal (300 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)