Elephant Nose Fish

Elephant Nose Fish

Gnathonemus petersii

Also known as: Peter's Elephantnose

💧 Freshwater ⚡ Semi-aggressive 🔴 Advanced 🥩 Carnivore

Bizarre, intelligent fish with an electrosensory 'trunk' used to find food in dark conditions. Fascinatingly unique.

Tank Size

55 gal
minimum (75+ preferred)

Temperature

73–82°F
23–28°C

pH Range

6–7.5
water acidity

Max Size

9"
22.9 cm

Lifespan

7–10 years
typical in captivity

Swim Level

Bottom
preferred zone

Care Notes

Sensitive and difficult to keep. Conspecific aggressive. Needs sand substrate and dim lighting. Uses weak electric fields to navigate.

Feeding

Frozen bloodworms, tubifex, and live foods. Will not eat flakes. Needs targeted feeding.

Compatible Tank Mates

None identified.

Use Caution With

Cardinal Tetra 2" Rummy Nose Tetra 2" Black Skirt Tetra 2.5" Congo Tetra 3.5" Harlequin Rasbora 2" Zebra Danio 2" Bloodfin Tetra 2" Diamond Tetra 2.5" Buenos Aires Tetra 3" Scissortail Rasbora 3.5" Emperor Tetra 2" Penguin Tetra 2.5"

Incompatible With

Neon Tetra 1.5" Ember Tetra 0.8" Serpae Tetra 1.75" Glowlight Tetra 1.5" Chili Rasbora 0.7" Celestial Pearl Danio 1" White Cloud Mountain Minnow 1.5" Lemon Tetra 1.5" Black Neon Tetra 1.5" Green Neon Tetra 1" X-Ray Tetra 1.75" Flame Tetra 1.5"

Check Compatibility

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