Elephant Nose

Welcome to PacificFishDepot.com, your trusted source for exotic and rare aquarium fish across the USA and Canada. If you’re looking to add a mysterious, intelligent, and captivating freshwater fish to your aquarium, the Elephant Nose Fish (Gnathonemus petersii) is a truly exceptional choice. With its distinctive elongated snout, electric sensory abilities, and fascinating behavior, the Elephant Nose is one of the most intriguing species in the hobby.

At PacificFishDepot.com, we specialize in delivering healthy, ethically sourced, and expertly quarantined Elephant Nose Fish directly to your door, with fast, insulated shipping options and a Live Arrival Guarantee. Whether you’re a seasoned aquarist or a curious hobbyist, this remarkable species is a stunning addition to any medium to large community tank.

What is an Elephant Nose Fish?

The Elephant Nose Fish is a freshwater species native to the slow-moving rivers and streams of West and Central Africa, particularly the Niger River Basin. It belongs to the family Mormyridae, often referred to as “elephant fish” due to their trunk-like snouts, which they use to forage for food and communicate.

This species has a unique black body with silver-white markings, a slender profile, and a highly developed brain-to-body mass ratio—comparable to that of humans and dolphins. What makes the Elephant Nose even more unique is its ability to generate and sense weak electrical fields, a trait it uses for navigation, prey detection, and social interaction.

Why Choose PacificFishDepot.com for Your Elephant Nose Purchase?

At PacificFishDepot.com, we are passionate about aquatics and committed to the ethical sourcing, safe transportation, and expert handling of every fish we sell.

✅ Live Arrival Guarantee

We offer a 100% Live Arrival Guarantee, ensuring that your Elephant Nose Fish arrives healthy, vibrant, and ready to acclimate.

✅ Shipping Across Canada & USA

Our secure, temperature-controlled packaging and express shipping options mean your fish arrive quickly and safely, anywhere in North America.

✅ Expert Quarantine and Care

All of our fish go through a rigorous quarantine process to prevent parasites and ensure strong immune health prior to shipping.

✅ Dedicated Support Team

Need help with tank setup, diet planning, or tank mate compatibility? Our knowledgeable team is here to guide you every step of the way.

Species Overview

Unique Traits and Behavior

🔍 Electric Navigation

The Elephant Nose Fish uses a specialized organ in its tail to emit weak electrical pulses. These pulses help it navigate murky water, detect prey like worms and insects, and even communicate with other Elephant Nose Fish.

🧠 High Intelligence

With one of the largest brain-to-body ratios of any fish, the Elephant Nose is a highly intelligent and responsive species. It often recognizes its owners and can even show signs of learning and memory.

🦴 Trunk-Like Snout

The “trunk” is actually an elongated chin appendage called a proboscis. It’s extremely sensitive and helps the fish detect food in the substrate, especially in low-light or turbid water conditions.

🌙 Nocturnal by Nature

This species is most active during the evening and nighttime hours. It prefers dim lighting, subdued surroundings, and plenty of hiding places to feel safe.

Aquarium Requirements

To keep your Elephant Nose Fish healthy and happy, you must replicate its natural habitat as closely as possible.

🐠 Tank Size

We recommend at least a 55-gallon tank, though 75 gallons or larger is ideal for multiple fish or community setups.

🌱 Substrate and Decor

• Soft sand or smooth gravel substrate

• Driftwood, caves, and dense plantings for cover

• Avoid sharp decorations that could injure their sensitive snout

💧 Water Parameters

• Temperature: 75–82°F (24–28°C)

• pH: 6.5–7.5

• Water hardness: 5–12 dGH

• Filtration: Use a low-flow, high-efficiency filter with ample biological media

💡 Lighting

Dim lighting is preferred, or use floating plants to diffuse light and mimic their natural murky environments.

Feeding and Diet

Elephant Nose Fish are carnivores with a strong preference for live or frozen foods.

Recommended Foods:

• Blackworms, bloodworms, tubifex worms

• Frozen brine shrimp

• Mysis shrimp

• Live daphnia or micro-crustaceans

• Occasionally sinking pellets (if accepted)

They often ignore dry flake food, so it’s important to offer fresh or frozen fare for proper nutrition. Feed once or twice daily, preferably in the evening when they’re most active.

Tank Mate Compatibility

Elephant Nose Fish are peaceful and shy, making them excellent community fish—provided tank mates are chosen wisely.

Compatible Tank Mates:

• Congo tetras

• Peaceful gouramis

• Rainbowfish

• Angelfish

• Corydoras catfish

• Discus (with proper conditions)

Avoid:

• Aggressive or territorial cichlids

• Fast feeders or fin-nippers

• Overly boisterous species

Because of their shy nature and special feeding needs, avoid placing them with dominant fish that compete for food.

Breeding and Sexing

Breeding Elephant Nose Fish in captivity is extremely rare and not commonly successful in home aquariums. Their electric communication and complex mating behaviors are still being studied, and they require very specific environmental triggers.

There is also no reliable method to visually sex Elephant Nose Fish. All specimens sold at PacificFishDepot.com are juveniles or sub-adults, acclimated and ready for community life.

Why Keep an Elephant Nose Fish?

• ✅ Intelligent and Interactive

• ✅ Unique Appearance and Behavior

• ✅ Electric Sensing and Communication

• ✅ Compatible with Peaceful Communities

• ✅ Long-Lived and Hardy with Proper Care

• ✅ Shipped Safely with Live Arrival Guarantee

At PacificFishDepot.com, we’re proud to provide one of the most fascinating freshwater fish in the hobby—right to your door.

How to Order Elephant Nose Fish from PacificFishDepot.com

1. Visit our Elephant Nose product page.

2. Choose your preferred size or quantity.

3. Add to cart and checkout with our secure payment system.

4. Select overnight or express shipping options for your region (Canada or USA).

5. Receive your fish with our Live Arrival Guarantee and care instructions.

With our nationwide shipping and professional handling, your next favorite fish is just a click away.

🛒 5 Transactional FAQs

1. Do you ship Elephant Nose Fish to Canada and the USA?

Yes! At PacificFishDepot.com, we offer fast, insulated, and temperature-controlled shipping throughout Canada and the United States.

2. What size Elephant Nose Fish do you sell?

We typically sell juveniles or sub-adults ranging from 3 to 5 inches, which are easier to acclimate and adapt well to new environments.

3. What is the Live Arrival Guarantee?

If your Elephant Nose Fish arrives dead or in poor health, simply send a photo within 2 hours of delivery, and we’ll issue a refund or replacement—no hassle.

4. Can I keep more than one Elephant Nose in the same tank?

It is not recommended, unless you have a very large tank and experience with electric fish. They may compete using electric signals, leading to stress or aggression.

5. Will my Elephant Nose eat standard fish flakes?

Most do not accept dry flakes or pellets. They require a protein-rich diet of live or frozen foods like bloodworms, blackworms, and brine shrimp.