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Painted mormyrid

Hippopotamyrus pictus

Also known as Pictus mormyrid

FreshwaterFish

Painted mormyrid (Hippopotamyrus pictus)

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–82°F
23–28°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
11.8 in
30 cm
Minimum tank
159 gal
600 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Mormyridae
Origin
Nile and Nilo-Sudanic basins, Africa

Overview

The painted mormyrid is a medium-large elephantfish that is nocturnal, shy and highly sensitive to its water. It suits a keeper with a little experience.

Did you know

The painted mormyrid's species name, pictus, simply means painted, for its markings. The genus name Hippopotamyrus folds in the Greek for hippopotamus, which itself literally means river horse.

Caring for the painted mormyrid

Give a painted mormyrid plenty of floor space, in a tank of at least 159 gal (600 L). Lay a smooth, soft sand bed it can forage over without scraping itself. Add driftwood and other cover for daytime shelter, and keep the lighting low.

Keep the water warm and neutral, at 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 7.5, and hold it very steady. Mormyrids are among the first fish to suffer when water quality slips or copper medications are used. Feed meaty sinking foods such as bloodworm, blackworm and earthworm in the evening.

It is intolerant of its own kind, so keep just one. Choose tank mates with caution, sticking to calm, similarly sized fish that will not nip or crowd it. Its breeding is not recorded in aquaria.

Good to know

The painted mormyrid is an elephantfish of the family Mormyridae, described in 1864. It reads its surroundings with a weak electric organ discharge from the tail. It is also known as the pictus mormyrid.

In the wild

The painted mormyrid ranges across the Nile and the Nilo-Sudanic rivers of Africa. It forages over sandy bottoms in warm, flowing water.

Common questions

What size tank does a painted mormyrid need?

A painted mormyrid needs at least 159 gal (600 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a painted mormyrid need?

A painted mormyrid is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.

What does a painted mormyrid eat?

A painted mormyrid eats meaty sinking foods such as bloodworm, blackworm and earthworm. Feed it in the evening.

How big does a painted mormyrid get?

An adult painted mormyrid reaches about 11.8 in (30 cm).

Related species