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Freshwater fishElephant Nose Knifefish
Elephant Nose Knifefish
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Rarer than the Ossa Knifefish, the Elephant Nose Knifefish is wild caught in a small area of the Peruvian Amazon basin. Elephant nose knifefish have a long snout used to grab and eat small worms and similar food and will feed on frozen blood worms. Ideally, a source of live black worms would be safer to feed the fish from time to time. These knifefish have a white line on top of a black body and grow to nearly 18 inches.
Quick Facts
| Scientific Name | Sternarchorhynchus oxyrhynchus |
| Origin | Amazon basin, Peru |
| Care Level | Difficult |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Adult Size | Up to 18" |
| Lifespan | 10–15 years |
| Diet | Carnivore (small meaty foods) |
| Water Temperature | 75–82°F |
| pH | 6.0–7.0 |
| Group Size | Single |
| Shipping Size | Approx. 8" |
Care Guide
Tank setup: Give them hiding places like large tubes or caves, dim lighting, strong filtration and a tight lid. They are most active at night.
Feeding: Feed small frozen foods like bloodworms once or twice a day, ideally in the evening. They use their long snout to pick food from the bottom.
Tankmates: They are peaceful but can be outcompeted for food. Keep them with calm fish too large to fit in their mouth.
Good to know: Like other knifefish, they find food in the dark with a weak electric field.
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