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Others
/ Mormyridae / Blunt-Jaw Elephantnose
Worm-jawed Mormyrid; Blunt-Jaw Elephantnose
Gnathonemus tamandua | Pictures
Synonyms: Campylomormyrus
tamandua, Gnathonemus elephas, Mormyrus tamandua
Physical description: An elongated, laterally compressed species.
The Blunt-Jaw Elephantnose's mouth is
located near the end of its large proboscis.
The lower part of the proboscis protrudes past the mouth.
The
dorsal and ventral profiles are symmetric with the anal and dorsal fins being located across from one another.
The
caudal fin is forked.
The coloration is brown-gray with several brownish-white markings.
Size/Length: To 16" (40 cm)
Similar species: Other Gnathonemus
and Campylomormyrus
species.
Habitat: In murky water with submerged wood in Western Africa
;
Niger and Zaire.
S: bottom
Aquarium: A tank measuring 48" (122 cm) with a capacity from 55 gallons (209 L) is sufficient
for fish to 10" (25 cm) in length.
Larger fish require larger tanks.
Use dim lighting and provide hiding
places with pipes, tubes, caves, and wood.
The tank should be well-planted with large, robust plants and have
a cover of floating plants.
Use a filter that provides a strong current.
Use a fine gravel or sand substrate,
for this fish burrows.
The Worm-jawed Mormyrid prefers large, shallow tank having peat filtration.
Water chemistry: pH 6.0-7.5 (6.8); 5-20 dH (6); 73-82°F (23-28°C)
Social behavior: A species that is territorial and aggressive towards similar species although peaceful
towards different large species.
Do not combine with small species.
Suggested companions: Haplochromis,
Synodontis, Cichlasoma, Tilapia, Pimelodids, Doradids, Loricarids,
African characins.
FOOD: Live; Tubifex
, small fish, worms, insect larvae
Sexual differences: The rear edge of the anal fin of males is curved, while the edge of females is straight.
Breeding techniques: Unknown
Breeding potential: 10.
This species has not been bred in captivity.
REMARKS: This species requires frequent partial water changes.
Difficulty of care: 7.
The Worm-jawed Mormyrid is a fairly difficult species to care for.
It requires live foods and is aggressive.
It
is sensitive to medications and unfavorable water conditions.
Recent articles about fish
Overfishing may hurt Amazon forest trees
(2/5/2008) Overfishing is reducing the effectiveness of seed dispersal by fish in the Brazilian Pantanal, reports Nature. The research suggests that fishing practices can affect forest health.
Scientists find fish that literally lives in trees
(10/17/2007) Scientists have found a fish that literally lives in trees, according to research published in The American Naturalist and highlighted in New Scientist Magazine.
Piranhas originated when Amazon was flooded by seawater
(12/4/2007) South America's piranha family of fish -- notorious as eaters of flesh -- can be traced back to a single ancestor which dispersed when the Amazon was flooded by seawater some five million years ago, report researchers from the Institut de Recherche Pour le Developpement (IRD). Today piranhas are exclusively freshwater fish found from the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela to the Parana in Argentina.
How to save the world's oceans from overfishing
(7/8/2007) Global fishing stocks are in trouble. After expanding from 18 millions tons in 1950 to around 94 million tons in 2000, annual world fish catch has leveled off and may even be declining. Scientists estimate that the number of large predatory fish in the oceans has fallen by 90 percent since the 1950s, while about one-quarter of the world's fisheries are overexploited, depleted, or recovering from depletion. Despite these dire trends, the situation is changing. Today some of the world's largest environmental groups are focused on addressing the health of marine life and oceans, while sustainable fisheries management is at the top of the agenda for intergovenmental bodies. At the forefront of these efforts is Mike Sutton, director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium's conservation program: the Center for the Future of the Oceans. The aquarium, which has long been recognized as one of the world's most important marine research facilities, is pioneering new strategies for protecting the planet's oceans. Sutton says the approach has four parts: establishing new marine protected areas, pushing for ocean policy reform, promoting sustainable seafood, and protecting wildlife and marine ecosystems.
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