Hingemouth
Phractolaemus ansorgii
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–82°F
- 23–28°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 9.8 in
- 25 cm
- Minimum tank
- 36 gal
- 135 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Very rare
- Family
- Phractolaemidae
- Origin
- Congo Basin
Overview
The hingemouth is an odd, night-active bottom fish that grazes instead of hunting other fish. It is best kept by someone with a little experience.
Did you know
The hingemouth gets its name from a tiny mouth that hinges forward into a stubby tube. It uses that tube to nibble food from surfaces.
Caring for the hingemouth
Give the hingemouth a tank of at least 36 gal (135 L) with a soft sand or fine bed it can grub through. Add plenty of cover from driftwood and plants, with dim lighting and gentle flow. It surfaces to breathe air, so leave a gap above the water and fit a lid.
Keep the water at 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C), slightly acidic to neutral, with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. The hingemouth roots through soft substrate for algae, tiny organisms and detritus. Feed sinking foods, frozen bloodworms and vegetable matter in the evening.
It is peaceful toward tank mates of any size, but it is shy. It does best with calm, undemanding companions, so choose them with caution. It is solitary by nature, though it is fine in a group of its own kind. Females can carry several thousand small eggs, but spawning has not been recorded in aquariums.
Good to know
The hingemouth is the only member of its family, Phractolaemidae. Its swim bladder is divided into lung-like chambers, so it can take in atmospheric air and survive in near-stagnant water.
In the wild
The hingemouth lives in the Congo River basin and nearby West African waters. Its home waters are sluggish, often poorly oxygenated forest pools, swamps and floodplains, rich in leaf litter and soft mud.
Common questions
What size tank does a hingemouth need?
A hingemouth needs at least 36 gal (135 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a hingemouth need?
A hingemouth is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
What does a hingemouth eat?
A hingemouth roots through soft substrate for algae, tiny organisms and detritus. Feed it sinking foods, frozen bloodworms and vegetable matter in the evening.
How big does a hingemouth get?
An adult hingemouth reaches about 9.8 in (25 cm).
How does a hingemouth breed?
Hingemouth females can carry several thousand small eggs. Spawning has not been recorded in aquariums.
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