{"product_id":"elephant-nose-fish-gnathonemus-petersii","title":"Elephant Nose Fish | Gnathonemus petersii","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Elephantnose is one of the most fascinating oddballs in the hobby — it generates a weak electric field to navigate and communicate, and probes the substrate with its trunk-like chin to find food. Sensitive, intelligent and nocturnal, it grows to around 25 cm in the aquarium and needs soft sand, spotless water and calm, undemanding tankmates.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eNative to the rivers and floodplains of West and Central Africa, particularly the Niger and Congo basins. It lives in slow, often murky, tannin-stained waters over soft, muddy and sandy beds, using its electric sense to find its way and forage in near-total darkness.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA dark, laterally compressed body ending in a narrow tail, with the trunk-like extension of the lower jaw that gives the fish its name. The colour is near-black to dark brown with a couple of pale markings towards the rear. It is a genuinely large fish that needs room to grow.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful but shy and easily bullied at feeding time, and territorial towards its own kind unless kept in a large group in a very big tank. It is best with calm, slow-feeding tankmates that will not out-compete it. Its electric sense can also clash with other weakly-electric fish, which are best avoided.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA specialised micro-carnivore that can be tricky to feed. It strongly favours live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, blackworm, brine shrimp and daphnia, taken from the substrate, and many individuals never learn to accept dry foods. Feed after lights-out and make sure it is actually getting its share.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is an advanced fish. Provide a large tank with a soft, fine sand substrate to protect its delicate chin, plenty of shade, wood and cover, subdued lighting and gentle flow. It is very sensitive to poor water quality, dissolved waste and copper-based medications, so mature, stable, pristine water and careful medicating are essential.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eEffectively unbred in home aquaria. Captive spawning is extremely rare and not achieved under normal conditions, so this species should be regarded as one you keep rather than breed.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGnathonemus petersii\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eElephantnose Fish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWest and Central Africa (Niger and Congo basins)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 25 cm (to 35 cm in the wild)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6–10 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful (shy)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdvanced\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e250+ litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore (micro-predator)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0–7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2–12 dGH (soft to medium)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLarge, mature, soft-sand specialist aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eCalm, non-competitive fish that will not beat it to food — peaceful tetras and other characins, congo tetras, larger rasboras, peaceful catfish and other gentle, similarly soft-water species.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eBoisterous, aggressive or fast-feeding fish, other weakly-electric fish such as knifefish, and fin-nippers. Avoid coarse or sharp substrate that will damage its sensitive chin.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232884146467,"sku":"AA3765-S","price":59.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232884179235,"sku":"AA3765","price":69.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55232884212003,"sku":"AA3765-L","price":79.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-23cm)","offer_id":55351970890019,"sku":"AA3765-XL","price":89.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/elephant-nose-fish-gnathonem-43091601195299-lv.webp?v=1790307186","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/elephant-nose-fish-gnathonemus-petersii","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}