Elephantnose...Nocturnal?

[Frank_Carr]

I recently added an elephantnose to my 29 gal tropical tank that's been setup a few weeks. I understood from research on the fish that it would be more or less nocturnal and shy, sort of like a black knife fish. I'd set the tank up with a couple of artificial rock grottos for the elephantnose to hide in (I was trying to decide at the time between the knife or a nose). His neighbors in the tank are a pair of spotted mollies (both male) and a decent sized pleco who started the tank cycling .

The thing is that this elephantnose apparently didn't get the memo about being nocturnal and shy. He's out and about all of the time, poking around, swimming and generally checking things out. He doesn't show a lot of fear of other fish or of human presence. He'll occasionally go into one of the grottos but he doesn't stay there long. He's about 3 to 4 inches long right now.

Is this behavior due to him being young? Well acclimated to captivity? Doesn't like the grottos? Any other clues and observations about elephantnose behavior appreciated (and yes, I've read the other elephantnose threads on this board).

[JamisonBWolsh]

It depends...some are shy and some are not.. you are lucky and you got a "social" elephantnose! No need to worry.. he east right? Of course...you should get a bigger tank for him..

[agilis]

Maybe your elephant nose is an insomniac claustrophobe. Unable to rest during the day, it wanders around the aquarium during its normal diurnal sleeptime. It may also have an irrational fear of being enclosed in a small "room", causing it to avoid the cave you expected it to use. It is also possible that he/she does not like the way the cave is decorated.

Sometimes those enoses make me throw up my hands in frustration!

[JamisonBWolsh]

Originally posted by agilis
Maybe your elephant nose is an insomniac claustrophobe. Unable to rest during the day, it wanders around the aquarium during its normal diurnal sleeptime. It may also have an irrational fear of being enclosed in a small "room", causing it to avoid the cave you expected it to use. It is also possible that he/she does not like the way the cave is decorated.

Sometimes those enoses make me throw up my hands in frustration!

Are you serious? This is a joke, right? How a cave is decorated? hmmmm.....maybe he can add a painting...maybe a picture of the elephant old home in the river..if he is home sick?

[Frank_Carr]

Originally posted by JamisonBWolsh
Of course...you should get a bigger tank for him..

Yep, I'm planning on getting a bigger tank later this year for the elephantnose and pleco. What else will go in with them depends on the size of the tank I get (something peaceful and easy going). I've been lucky so far finding decent used tanks for cheap at garage sales, storage room sales and the like (a SeaClear 29 for $4!). So I'll have to find a 55 gallon+ setup cheap to do it soon or save up the $$$ for a new one later.