Elephant nose fish care

Water temperature

73–82°F

A elephant nose fish wants water at 73–82°F, pH 6–7.5, and a tank of 55 gallons or bigger. Good tank mates include bettas, angelfish, oscars.

Shy, sensitive and a slow eater. Bullies starve it out.

Gnathonemus petersii

pH

6–7.5

Minimum tank

55 gal

Adult size

9.0 in

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

Group

Alone or in pairs

Lifespan

6–10 years

Swims at

Bottom

Diet

Carnivore

Best tank mates

• BettaYes
• AngelfishYes
• OscarYes
• Kissing gouramiYes
• Congo tetraYes
• Blue gouramiYes
• Bala sharkYes
• Dwarf gouramiYes
• SeverumYes
• Electric blue acaraYes
• Kuhli loachYes
• Black ghost knifeYes

Full elephant nose fish tank mate chart: 42 yes, 31 with care, 25 no

Elephant nose fish water compared

Fish to keep away from elephant nose fish

• Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); elephant nose fish need 73–82°F. No temperature suits both.
• Pea puffer At 9 inches an elephant nose fish can swallow a 1-inch pea puffer whole.
• Jack Dempsey Jack dempseys are aggressive, and slow, long-finned elephant nose fish cannot escape them.
• Sparkling gourami At 9 inches an elephant nose fish can swallow a 1.5-inch sparkling gourami whole.
• Goldfish Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); elephant nose fish need 73–82°F. They overlap only at 73–74°F, the edge of both ranges.
• Ember tetra At 9 inches an elephant nose fish can swallow a 0.8-inch ember tetra whole.
• Black neon tetra At 9 inches an elephant nose fish can swallow a 1.5-inch black neon tetra whole.
• Neon tetra At 9 inches an elephant nose fish can swallow a 1.5-inch neon tetra whole.

More oddballs

• Pea puffer74–82°F
• Bichir72–82°F
• Killifish70–77°F
• Black ghost knife73–82°F
• Silver arowana75–86°F