TankBud

Peter's elephantnose

Gnathonemus petersii

Also known as Elephant nose

FreshwaterFish

Peter's elephantnose (Gnathonemus petersii)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–82°F
23–28°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
8.9 in
22.5 cm
Minimum tank
66 gal
250 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Mormyridae
Origin
Central Africa

Overview

The Peter's elephantnose is a shy, night-active fish that hunts for food buried in soft sand. It takes an experienced keeper to do it well.

Did you know

The Peter's elephantnose carries its own kind of sixth sense. It fills the water around it with faint electric pulses and reads the echoes to find food in pitch darkness. Doing so burns so much energy that, for its size, it has one of the largest brains in the fish world.

Caring for the Peter's elephantnose

Give a Peter's elephantnose a well-filtered tank of at least 66 gal (250 L). Lay a deep bed of soft sand for it to search. Add driftwood and plenty of cover, and keep the lighting dim.

Keep the water stable and clean, at 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C) and a pH close to neutral, 6.5 to 7.5. Feed live and frozen foods such as bloodworms and blackworms in the evening, and make sure it gets its share.

This sensitive fish is easily starved in a busy tank, so give it gentle, slow-feeding tank mates. Keep it alone or in a group of five or more, since small numbers lead to bullying. Captive breeding is essentially unknown.

Good to know

The Peter's elephantnose belongs to Mormyridae, the African elephantfishes. The trunk-like extension below its mouth is not a nose but a sensitive, movable chin appendage used to search for food. It is weakly electric, generating pulses from a tail organ to navigate and communicate.

In the wild

The Peter's elephantnose comes from the rivers of central and West Africa, including the Congo and Niger basins. It lives in murky, slow-moving water over muddy bottoms, among roots and leaf litter. These dim habitats are why it relies on senses other than sight.

Common questions

What size tank does a Peter's elephantnose need?

A Peter's elephantnose needs at least 66 gal (250 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Peter's elephantnose need?

A Peter's elephantnose is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.

What does a Peter's elephantnose eat?

A Peter's elephantnose eats live and frozen foods such as bloodworms and blackworms. Feed it in the evening and make sure it gets its share.

How big does a Peter's elephantnose get?

An adult Peter's elephantnose reaches about 8.9 in (22.5 cm).

Related species