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FAQs on Mormyrid Fishes Behavior
Related Articles: Mormyrids, Elephantfishes, Electrogenic
Fishes,
Related FAQs: Mormyrids, Elephantfishes, Mormyrid
Identification, Mormyrid Compatibility,
Mormyrid Selection,
Mormyrid Systems,
Mormyrid Feeding,
Mormyrid Disease,
Mormyrid Reproduction,
Bony
Tongue Fishes, Electrogenic
Fishes, Aba Aba
Knifefish, African Butterflyfish,
Arapaimas,
Arowanas, Featherfin Knives,
New World Knifefishes, |
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Aggression in elephant nose fish
7/26/08
Hi!
I just have a quick question. I was wondering if you could explain the
difference between "playing" and aggression in elephant nose fish.
<Gnathonemus will play with novel objects, like tinfoil balls; they fight
with one another.>
I understand they are more active at night, but we have one that won't leave
another alone.
<Aggression.>
He even goes after the smaller fish in the tank. He is the newest addition,
and Im actually starting to regret him. I don't want another at the first
ones expense!
<Gnathonemus petersi is a species that should be kept either singly or in
big (6+) groups. What you're doing almost never works, and the weaker fish
will eventually die.>
Thank you in advance.
<Sorry can't offer any more positive advice. This is a difficult species at
the best of times, well known for intraspecific aggression, much of which
involves bullying via electrical fields, so is invisible to us. Either
separate the fish or add more, similar sized specimens. Cheers, Neale.>
Re: aggression in elephant nose fish
7/26/08
Thank you so much for your quick reply!
I guess the next questions would have to be: I currently have a 50 gallon
tank. Would it be safe add 2 and make it a group of 4?
<Depends on how heavily stocked the tank is otherwise, and how big these
Gnathonemus are. Adult size in aquaria seems to be around 20-25 cm, though
potentially a bit bigger in the wild. I'm not convinced that 4 will fix the
problem, but if you want to give it a whirl...>
I think 6 would be way too much.
<Not for this species. The problem is that they generate electric fields,
and there is a optimum frequency that works best. The dominant fish will
bully the other ones to force them to use less good frequencies. Moreover,
simply being in the same tank is sort of like having the fish shouting at
each other all the time -- tempers get frayed! In the wild they form big
schools (dozens, if not hundreds, of specimens) but in aquaria this stable
population structure doesn't occur.>
And if I shouldn't add more, the only other tank we currently have going is
a 25 gallon which is already home to a transparent knifefish. If I had to
separate them would that be a suitable home for my new elephant nose or
should I continue looking for a new home for him???
<I'm assuming the Glass Knifefish is Eigenmannia virescens -- another
electric species! You'll get precisely the same problem with one bullying
the other.>
Once again thanks a million!
Rachel
<Hope this helps, Neale.>
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