Nile bottlenose mormyrid

Care at a glance

Overview

The Nile bottlenose mormyrid is a very large, gentle, electrically sensitive fish for pond-scale systems or public aquariums. It is a fish for experienced keepers with a great deal of space.

Caring for the Nile bottlenose mormyrid

Give a Nile bottlenose mormyrid at least 185 gal (700 L), and a tank well beyond that is better. Provide a wide footprint and a deep bed of soft sand for its snout to plow. Add wood for cover, subdued light, a gentle current and generous space.

Keep the water warm and neutral to slightly alkaline, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 8.0. Hold it rock-steady, clean and well filtered, which is essential for this sensitive giant. Feed meaty sinking foods such as earthworm, prawn and mussel after dark.

Keep it singly, since it does not tolerate its own kind. Select tank mates with caution: large, placid fish that will not harass it or steal its food. Aquarium breeding is not documented.

Good to know

The Nile bottlenose mormyrid belongs to the family Mormyridae and carries the classic bottlenose snout of the genus Mormyrus. Like all elephantfishes it has an outsized brain, dominated by a huge cerebellum tied to its electric sense. It generates a weak electric field to navigate murky water and find buried food. It is an important food fish in the Nile, and it is also called the elephant snout fish.

In the wild

The Nile bottlenose mormyrid works the river and lake floors of the Nile basin and the great lakes of East Africa, including Lake Victoria. It plows the soft bottoms with its down-swept snout.

Common questions

Related species

• 

  West African bottlenose mormyrid

  Mormyrus rume

  31.5 in (80 cm) · 185 gal (700 L)

  31.5 in (80 cm)185 gal (700 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Eastern bottlenose mormyrid

  Mormyrus longirostris

  29.5 in (75 cm) · 185 gal (700 L)

  29.5 in (75 cm)185 gal (700 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Bebe mormyrid

  Hyperopisus bebe

  20.1 in (51 cm) · 264 gal (1,000 L)

  20.1 in (51 cm)264 gal (1,000 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)

• 

  Elephant trunk mormyrid

  Campylomormyrus elephas

  15.7 in (40 cm) · 119 gal (450 L)

  15.7 in (40 cm)119 gal (450 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Painted mormyrid

  Hippopotamyrus pictus

  11.8 in (30 cm) · 159 gal (600 L)

  11.8 in (30 cm)159 gal (600 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)

• 

  Eel mormyrid

  Isichthys henryi

  11.4 in (29 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)

  11.4 in (29 cm)79 gal (300 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)