Its so confusing.

[Cat]

I bought a elephant fish today,I've always liked them,so put it in my tank and started looking online for info about them bad idea,every think i read was different,

one site said= always only have 1 elephant nose in a tank they are very agressive to their own. They are nocturnal and you will hardly see it.

ok I thought leave it with just him.

next site= always keep up to 3 elephant noses together they interact with each other and enjoy the company You can train them to eat from you.


So anyone on here have one ,let me know if I can only have 1 or buy it company?

 

[Discomafia]

put it in my tank and started looking online for info about them

That's why I do my research before buying.

 

[Cat]

I'd checked they were ok in a community tank (they are).


Can't find anything on here

 

[sylvia]

They grow to 9 inches and if you didn't research first this may be your first concern...

They are nocturnal and emit weak electrical impulses to navigate in the dark. They are incredibly sensitive to water quality and are carnivorous so a meaty diet, after dark prefferably, is essential.

From everything I've heard I'd say they do ok both alone or in groups...

Now let me make it very clear that I've never kept any so anything I've just said is strictly from word of mouth, my friends' experiences and my own observation of these fish in other peoples' tanks... So basicaly what I'm saying is don't take my word for it.

 

[WILDER]

Here is a link for you hope it helps.
http/species.fishindex.com/species_611am...r_mushroom.html

 

[Cat]

I'd read that first sylvia, i know they get to 9 inches,i just can't find out if you can have more that 1 in a tank.

 

[smithrc]

I think the reason they say only to have one is because they are an electric fish (they take 2x AAA for future referance )

They use electricity to find their food - so they can confuse each other if they are kept in a smaller tank in groups.

 

[Cat]

Thanx wilder now that site says only keep one on its own

 

[sylvia]

I think they are also territorial so you can only keep several in a large tank but they should do ok provided they have room. What size tank do you have? I'd stick to keeping just one to be on the safe side.

 

[CFC]

As with all Mormyrids they should either be kept alone or with many similar sized fish of their own species, if keeping a group you should have at least 5 fish with 20 gallons of tank volume per fish.

IMO their size and compatability with each other are the least of your worries, Elephant nose fish are notouriously difficult to feed as they usually will only accept very small live foods, their "nose" is also very delicate and if damaged at all the fish will be unable to feed so a sand substrate MUST be provided, the biggest cause of death for Elephant nose fish is starvation. Then you have the icing on the cake, Mormyrids are very sensative to medications used to treat common diseases like ICH to such a point that if they are used in a tank containing Elephant nose the fish will die, this makes treating the tank for any diseases you may encounter almost impossible without first removing the Elephant nose which then can never be returned as it will not have been treated, add to this that they are sensative to any changes in water chemistry (some water treatment plants use them to moniter water quallity by monitering the electrical pulses from the fish) and you have a fish that is almost as difficult to keep as Discus and FW stingrays.

 

[Cat]

And the shop keeper said..

Delightful fish to have in a community tank,very easy to look after,likes bloodworm and will accept flakes

bastard

 

[sylvia]

Research is all I can say - never trust those LFS workers.

 

[Cat]

I impulse buy thats going to stop (unless they start selling cute guys)

I'll keep it, if i take it back the shop it might go to a worse place,there was a little kid buying one at same time as me.

I do buy live blood worm a few times a week,I'll put a bag in each night ,hoping it will get some.
Thanx everyone for your advice

 

[WILDER]

I no some lfs will tell you anything, and it's not far on the fish as well as the fishkeeper.

 

[Opcn]

I impulse buy thats going to stop (unless they start selling cute guys)

They would but I'm just to big to fit into the tanks, sorry cat.