African Elephant Nose Fish Gnathonemus Petersii 10cm
Image for illustration purposes only. Exact colours, patterns, and size may vary between individuals.
Delivered alive, guaranteed
Live fish delivery is £20 per order, delivered Thursday, Friday or Saturday, arriving before 1:00pm on the day you choose at checkout. Packed by aquatic specialists and shipped overnight with a dedicated livestock courier, every fish is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee with automatic refunds. See How Live Fish Delivery Works for full details.
When will my fish arrive?
| Order placed | Delivery day |
|---|---|
| Up to Monday 11:00am | Thursday (that week) |
| Monday after 11:00am – Tuesday 11:00am | Friday (that week) |
| Tuesday after 11:00am – Wednesday 11:00am | Saturday (that week) |
| Wednesday after 11:00am – Sunday (any time) | Thursday (following week) |
Overview
The Elephantnose is one of the most extraordinary aquarium fish, with a dark, laterally compressed body and a flexible, trunk-like chin extension used to probe the substrate for food. It navigates and communicates using a weak electric field and is active mainly after dark. From slow, muddy rivers of West and Central Africa, it suits patient keepers with a mature, dimly lit tank.
- Adult Size: Around 22 cm (9 in); often smaller in aquaria
- Lifespan: 6–10 years, sometimes longer
Origin
- Native to: Niger and Congo basins, from Mali to Zambia
- Habitat: Slow, muddy, heavily vegetated river margins
Feeding
- Diet: Carnivorous (micro-predator on worms and insect larvae)
- Preferred Foods: Bloodworm, blackworm, tubifex, brine shrimp, daphnia, sinking granules
- Feeding Habits: Feed after lights out; ensure food reaches the sand before tank mates take it; offer daily
Tank Mates
- Best with: Congo tetras, Synodontis, peaceful barbs, medium rasboras, calm catfish
- Avoid: Other elephantnoses, boisterous feeders, aggressive cichlids
Aggression & Behaviour
- Temperament: Peaceful but shy
- Territoriality: Strongly territorial towards its own kind
Experience Level
- Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced
- Challenges: Scaleless and medication sensitive; shy feeder; needs pristine water
Water Parameters
- Water Type: Freshwater, soft to moderately hard, slightly acidic
- Temperature: 23–28°C (73–82°F)
- pH: 6.0–7.5
- Hardness: 5–15 dGH
- Flow: Slow
- Tank Size: Minimum 250 litres with a long footprint, sand bed and plenty of cover
Final Notes
Keep singly unless the tank is very large, as elephantnoses fight persistently with each other. Provide fine sand so the trunk can dig without injury, dim lighting or floating plants, and caves or pipes for daytime hiding. It lacks scales, so avoid salt, copper and most medications, and keep nitrate low with regular water changes. Cannot be sexed externally and has not been bred in captivity. A fascinating fish that learns to hand feed.
Please Note
The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Birchwood Aquatic Centre shop. Species sold at the Birchwood Aquatic Centre physical store may differ from ones available to order to your door.
Frequently Asked Questions
In insulated boxes designed for live transport, packed by aquatic specialists,
overnight with a licensed live-animal courier, arriving before 1pm.
It is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
Photograph it within 4 hours of delivery, email info@birchwoodaquaticcentre.co.uk with your order number, and the refund is processed automatically. The cover continues for 7 days after arrival.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You pick your day at checkout; please choose a day someone is home.
Yes. One basket, one checkout; the fish arrive with the specialist courier and the rest of your order ships as normal.
We can deliver to UK mainland only for live fish.
Follow the five-minute acclimatisation steps in our When Your Fish Arrive guide: float the bags, add tank water gradually, net the fish in, lights low, feed tomorrow.