The Elephantnose is native to the warm freshwaters of tropical Africa. These fish are not bred commercially, but are imported for sale. Though they can be expensive, their oddity makes them of interest.

This fish possesses and electrical organ. They have electricity-generating cells that radiate a magnetic field around the fish, which assists navigation in the darkness.

Tank Setup

House this oddity in a large tank with plants for shelter. The Elephantnose is nocturnal, and so it should be provided with dark areas where it can hide. Because of its shy, delicate nature and its occasional aggressive behavior, be aware when introducing the Elephantnose into a community aquarium. These fish burrow and need a soft, sandy bottom. One Elephantnose is recommended per tank as it becomes aggressive towards its own kind.

Feeding

Gnathonemus petersii can be a playful fish. With its surprisingly flexible long nose, it will dig and feel around in search of food. It generally ignores prepared dry foods, hence live foods must be available to the owner. Because of its small mouth, the Elephantnose can only swallow small bits.

Water Chemistry

Provide this oddball fish with a water pH around 6.8-7.2 and a temperature range between 72-82 degrees F.

Breeding

It is said that sexing can be done by observing the anal fin; the fish with the more curved end to the anal fin is the male. Breeding in captivity has not been successful.