Some of the foods that you can provide to your elephant nose in captivity are:
- Bloodworms
- Tubifex
- Aquatic invertebrates (mosquito larvae being the most common of them)
- Black Fly
- Brine Shrimp
- Frozen flakes
- Artificial foods
What do elephant nose fish like to eat?
They eat small worms, with bloodworms appearing to be their favorite. They also eat mosquito larvae, flakes or frozen foods. Are elephant nose fish aggressive? No, they are generally peaceful, but when housed with a single other elephant nose fish, they can get aggressive How do you take care of an elephant nose fish?
What is Peter’s elephantnose fish?
Peter’s Elephantnose fish is a unique featured fish that is not common among aquarium keepers. Once you hear “Elephant nose,” you immediately have an iconic picturization of Peter’s elephant nose fish.
What do Peter’s elephantnose eat?
Peter’s elephantnose love mosquito larvae and will pick it over any other foods. However, they’re fond of any wiggly-worm-like critter. Bloodworms, whiteworms, and small earthworms are all good options for live food as well. If you can’t get live versions, you can use frozen bloodworms and hide them under the sand for them to “hunt” as well.
How to care for elephantnose fish in tank?
Tank water temperature should be +23…+28 °C (73,4-82,4°F), dGH 5-15 °, pH — 6,0-7,5. Filtration and aeration are required, again the fish is very sensitive to the water quality, one third of which you have to renew every week. Elephantnose fish feeds mainly on insects and their larvae which it can find on the bottom.
What do elephant fish eat?
Elephant Nose Fish are carnivorous and eat a wide variety of meaty, protein-rich foods. In the wild, this usually means various insects and larvae, and you'll be replicating this rather closely in captivity as well.
Do elephant nose fish eat flakes?
The elephant nose fish can be well fed using Bloodworms, Mosquito Larvae, Black Fly, Brine Shrimp, and Tubifex. Some have been known to consume flake food or even frozen worms.
How many fish can be in a elephant nose tank?
It is best to keep just one to a tank and not with any other elephantnose species, unless the aquarium is extremely voluminous.
How do big nose fish eat?
They use their upturned mouths to gorge on small shellfish. Bignose fish are the males. They feed off of their huge livers and use their large nasal organs to sniff for females.
Are elephant fish smart?
Fish may be smarter than we thought. Not only can some recognize human faces, but others can use their senses in a way that it was believed only humans and other mammals could manage.
Can elephant nose fish live with cichlids?
0:181:06Elephant nose cichlid - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYeah it does the book now lethen oh yeah elephant nose cichlid.MoreYeah it does the book now lethen oh yeah elephant nose cichlid.
How do elephant nose fish communicate?
They move slowly through murky streams and lakes in Africa, using an electrosensory system to detect the minute electrical pulses emitted by their invertebrate prey. At the same time, its electric organ, located on the tail, emits larger pulses to aid navigation and communication with other members of the species.
Are elephant nose fish nocturnal?
Elephantnoses are very timid and nocturnal. A very well planted tank with multiple hiding places in the form of driftwood, pots and pipes is a must, otherwise your elephant nose will be very stressed. Soft gravel is also necessary, so they don't damage their sensitive noses.
How much is a elephant nose fish?
These fish aren't as popular as other freshwater fish species due to their large size and unique care needs. The typical cost of an elephant nose fish is $15–$25.
How do you feed elephant fish?
0:242:24Virtual Visit: Elephantnose Fish Feeding! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAlso giving us examples of how not all fish do things the same way the fish we will be feedingMoreAlso giving us examples of how not all fish do things the same way the fish we will be feeding during this video are called elephant nose fish. And you will also get a chance to see our African
How sensitive is an elephant's trunk?
According to zoologists, their trunks give elephants an incredibly powerful sense of smell – twice as sensitive as a bloodhound. It can smell of food and water from incredibly long distances – up to 19 kilometers by some accounts.
How long do elephant nose fish live?
The average lifespan of the Elephant Nose Fish is between 6 and 10 years. These fish can flourish and stick around for quite a while if you take care of them!
Why is it so hard to take care of an elephant nose?
The reason for this is they’re relatively sensitive to suboptimal habitat conditions. Water quality, parameters, lighting, temperature, you name it.
Why is it important to test elephant nose fish?
Because Elephant Nose Fish requires a lot of stability when it comes to water parameters, it’s important to run frequent water tests. Invest in a high-quality and accurate aquarium testing kit that you can rely on. This will enable you to make tweaks and adjustments with confidence.
What is the elephant fish's head called?
While the name suggests otherwise, this feature on their head is called a Schnauzenorgan and is actually an all-purpose navigating tool (among other things). It’s highly sensitive and connects to their mouth. The Elephant Fish uses this as their primary method to feel their way around the dirty waters.
What are the names of elephant fish?
They go by a number of additional common names, but the most popular are the Long-Nosed Elephant Fish, Ubangi mormyrid, Elephant Fish , and Peters’ Elephant Nose Fish (named after the individual who discovered them).
Why are elephant nose fish murky?
These waters are usually quite murky with low visibility. This is partly caused by the riverbed and debris that collect in the rivers, but also due to the very mild current they have. In these rivers, the Elephant Nose Fish has to navigate a number of obstacles in order to find something to eat.
What is the caudal peduncle on an elephant nose fish?
The caudal peduncle on an Elephant Nose Fish is extremely thin compared to the rest of their body. It’s not very long either and connects to a thin forked caudal fin that’s mostly black. These fish are usually black or dark brown with a white line that runs between the front ridge of the dorsal and anal fins.
Elephant Nose Fish Basics
Elephant Nose Fish originate from Africa, and are typically found in the countries of Niger and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, specifically in the Congo Basin. They inhabit dark, muddy waters with a lot of plant life. This species is classified as mormyrids because in comparison to other fish, they have very large brains.
What do Elephant Nose Fish Look Like?
Elephant nose fish have a gray or a very dark brown color, with some yellow-white stripes running along their side to the back of the fin. As the name suggests, they have a very long nose, similar to an elephants. The body is thin and long, with smooth features.
Tank Conditions For Elephant Nose Fish
Elephant nose fish have a love for digging, so you will often find them at the bottom of the tank digging up the substrate. They are accustomed to having a lot of plants, branches, and other debris in their natural environment.
Plants for Elephant Nose Fish
You will need certain types of plants for the elephant nose fish tank. They should have a dense root structure, be capable of keeping light out of the tank, and they must be able to tolerate low light levels. These plants must also have the ability to grow on rocks, driftwood, and in sand.
Tank Mates
Elephant nose fish are very sensitive to water parameters; therefore, you will need to prioritise this when choosing their tank mates. Their tank mates should be of the same temperament, and capable of tolerating the elephant nose fishes’ water conditions. Here are some of the best fish to pair with the elephant nose:
What to Feed Elephant Nose Fish
The elephant nose fish is carnivorous, they eat meat that is high in protein. In their natural environment they feed on insects and insect larvae. In particular, they love mosquitos and their larvae, so if they have a choice, that is their first pick. However, they also like whiteworms, bloodworms, and small earthworms.
Breeding Elephant Nose Fish
It is virtually impossible to breed elephant nose fish in a home aquarium, and this is due to their gender dysmorphism.
How many species of elephant nose are there?
When you hear “elephant nose,” you probably have an iconic image of Peter’s elephantnose in your head. But there are over 200 different species spread across 20 genera. Calling Mormyrinae a “big family” is a big understatement.
What fish have bred in captivity?
Several species of wild-caught elephantnose fish have bred successfully in captivity under strict conditions. Brienomyrus brachyistius is the one scientists have had the most success with so far. Water conductivity using deionized water seems to be large part of the success of the few breeding reports we do have.
What are the fish that have the most smiling faces?
Reedfish, ropefish, snakefish – whatever you want to call them, they’re thin bichir-like fish that have the most adorable smiling faces. Despite their looks, they’re competent escape artists and need a tight-fitting lid and some structure to tuck into to hide.
Do Peter's Elephantnoses have a house?
Peter’s Elephantnose fish do best as the only mormyrid or in groups of six or more of their own kind (as in Peter’s Elephantnoses, not other mormyrids.) Again, to house a group that large, you’re basically going to need an elephant house.
Can you light up a Peter's Elephantnose?
Peter’s elephantnoses are primarily nocturnal and don’t do well with lighting. This gives you a few options. You can use a ton of plants and hope that you see them occasionally. You can get an adjustable light and keep the lighting to a minimum with ultra low-light plants. Or – probably my favorite – you can get an adjustable light and put the red only light on during the day, and the bright light for the plants on at night.
Is elephantnose fish healthy?
Aside from damaging their electrical organ (or whole mouth) on unsuitable substrate, elephantnose fish are pretty healthy. However, there are a few things that seem to pop up more often than others. Again, I listed all the meds they should need to stay tip-top in the water care section if you want to come prepared.
What do elephantnose fish eat?
The Elephantnose fish, bottom swimmers, mostly feed on mosquito larva and insects by hunting in the sand. Therefore, you can hide food under the sand to volunteer them for hunting. For detecting and flicking its food it uses its trunk like an elephant, the only difference is that the fish mouth is above its trunk.
How many species of elephantnose fish can cope with school?
Calm and peace-loving Peter’s Elephantnose fish can easily cope up with 4 to 7 species in school. But you have to keep in mind that these fish need enough space to deal with their timid behavior.
How big can an elephant nose fish get?
At first glimpse only, you will know that the elephant nose fish is not large. In the natural habitat, the fish can grow about 25 cm whereas you would not find the fish longer or bigger than the size of 15 cm in captivity.
Can you set up an aquarium for Peter's Elephantnose?
Setting up your aquarium is not only enough to make captivity adjustable for your fish. Besides that, you must also take care of the aquarium time and again by filtration. The water condition must be checked and maintained as per the preferred water parameter for Peter’s Elephantnose fish.
Is elephantnose fish a hobby?
The Elephantnose fish is not only popular for amazing looking creatures among most hobbyists. Most of the hobbyists are fond of their unique qualities that you would also be amazed to know. Here are some of the amazing facts that would interest you to bring it to your home.
Species Summary
Appearance
Size
- The typical maximum size of an Elephant Nose Fish is around 9 inches in length.There have been reported instances where this species has exceeded this number by 2-3 inches, but that’s very uncommon. Author Note: This is an area where there’s a bit of misinformation being passed around. We’ve seen some aquarists on various forums suggesting these fish are only 4-5 inches …
Elephant Nose Fish Care
- Elephant Nose Care is not terribly difficult if you know what you’re doing, but it’s not a species you can keep on autopilot either. The reason for this is they’re relatively sensitive to suboptimal habitat conditions. Water quality, parameters, lighting, temperature, you name it. If it’s not in their ideal window their health will quickly suffer. That means if you’re someone who’s just getting sta…
Diet & Food Recommendations
- Elephant Nose Fish are carnivorous and eat a wide variety of meaty, protein-rich foods. In the wild, this usually means various insects and larvae, and you’ll be replicating this rather closely in captivity as well. Bloodwormsand brine shrimp seem to be their favorites, but you have other options as well. Mixing in some chopped up earthworms, tubif...
Behavior & Temperament
- The Elephant Nose Fish is a very interesting species when it comes to their temperament. These fish tend to be very mellow and peaceful when they’re on their own. They don’t like to cause trouble and simply want to do their own thing! However, they can get aggressive and territorial when housed with another fish of the same species. Their normally peaceful nature will disappe…
Elephant Nose Fish Tank Mates
- When it comes to choosing between your options for Elephant Nose Fish tank mates, there’s one thing you need to remember first: These fish need water parameter priority. What this means is you should plan around the needs of this species first. The water parameter requirements of your Elephant Nose should never change. If that means another fish you want doesn’t fit within their …
Breeding
- Breeding Elephant Nose Fish is something that’s extremely hard to do. There aren’t any records or reports about aquarists being able to breed this species in a home aquarium. One of the main reasons for this is that it’s basically impossible to identify the gender of this species. The only reliable way to do this is through dissection (which isn’t an option of course). In captivity, there a…
So, Are You Getting One?
- Now that you know the fundamentals of Elephant Nose Fish care, it’s time for you to decide if they’re right for you. Take some time to think about their unique requirements and do an honest assessment of your willingness to provide them. If you’re a beginner this is probably not a good fish for you, and if you’re experienced but want something low-maintenance you should pass as …