Elephantnose fish

The elephantnose fish is a weakly electric fish of the family Mormyridae, native to rivers and floodplains of West and Central Africa, notably the Niger and Congo basins. It has a dark, laterally compressed body and a distinctive trunk-like extension of the lower jaw used to probe substrate for food. It uses a self-generated electric field to navigate and locate prey in murky water. It is shy and can be territorial toward its own kind, so it is kept singly or, in large tanks, in groups where individuals can maintain distance. A dim, well-planted tank with soft substrate, driftwood cover, and very clean, gentle water suits its sensitive nature. It is a nocturnal carnivore that requires live or frozen foods such as bloodworms and struggles to compete with fast tankmates. It is essentially not bred in captivity.