Pink Tail Chalceus
Chalceus macrolepidotus
- Care level
- Advanced
- Adult size
- 25 cm
- Minimum tank
- 243 litres
- Temperature
- 23–28 °C
Species profile
Peter’s Elephant Nose Fish
Gnathonemus petersii
Common names: Peter's Elephant Nose Fish, Elephantnose Fish, Long-Nosed Elephant Fish, Peter'S Elephantnose, Ubangi Mormyrid
Recognized speciesOddballs
Adult size
Up to 22.5 cm
Up to 22.5 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- A keeper who has researched this fish and can match its needs
Think carefully if
- You only want to keep one or two, because this fish needs a group of 5 or more
- You cannot provide about 243 litres for a fully grown fish
- You keep shrimp you want to protect
A dark fish with a long, trunk-like chin, which it uses to probe sand for food and to sense weak electric signals. Keep a group of at least 5 in 243 litres or more.
Appearance and Identification
A dark fish with a long, trunk-like chin, which it uses to probe sand for food and to sense weak electric signals. It must have a soft bottom, and it is shy in small numbers.
Check the scientific name when buying, as common names vary between sellers and countries.
Hard to sex in most species.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 970–1,220 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 250–375 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 243 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 120 cm
- Minimum group size
- 5
- Recommended group size
- 8
- Activity level
- Low
- Flow preference
- Low to moderate
- Planting preference
- Moderately planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Moderate
Use dim lighting, plenty of tubes and hiding places, and a soft bottom. Most are active at night, and they are shy without cover.
Behaviour and Tankmates
A shy fish that swims by rippling a long ribbon-like fin, and it can move backwards as easily as forwards. Many produce weak electric signals to find their way.
Varies by species, so see the notes.
Often territorial towards its own kind.
Keep with calm fish that are too big to swallow. It may eat small fish at night. It is likely to eat shrimp.
Water Parameters
Fairly tolerant of different water, if it is clean and stable.
Parameter caveat
Keep up regular water changes, and acclimatise new fish slowly.
Feeding
- Diet types
- Carnivore
- Feeding frequency
- Daily
- Preferred foods
- Frozen bloodworm and small prawnFeed in the evening, when the fish is most active.
- Live wormsGood for tempting shy fish to feed.
Feed meaty foods, and do so in the evening.
Feed small amounts, and remove anything left after a few minutes.
Breeding
- Breeding difficulty
- Not commonly bred
- Parental care
- Unknown
Little has been recorded about breeding this fish in aquariums.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Zambia
- Natural habitat
- River
- Aquarium contexts
- Planted Aquarium
- Audience level
- Beginner
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Gnathonemus
- Family
- Mormyridae
- Species group
- Fish, Oddballs
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- Care level
- Specialist
- Adult size
- 35 cm
- Minimum tank
- 1944 litres
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C
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- Care level
- Advanced
- Adult size
- 25 cm
- Minimum tank
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- Temperature
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- Care level
- Specialist
- Adult size
- 90 cm
- Minimum tank
- 540 litres
- Temperature
- 23–30 °C