Captive bred Elephantnose fish!

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Q

Quo Vadis

Gambusia
MFK Member
Apr 12, 2014
912
21
18
Wisconsin
Today I was at my LFS today looking at the wholesale list for the week (its one of those cool LFS where once the owner knows you he let people look at the list and order whatever they want, usually just charging a couple bucks more than list price).

I noticed the list had Elephantnose fish for a pretty reasonable price and in parenthesis next to them it said (TR) for "tank raised," We emailed the wholesaler to clarify that this actually been captive bred and tank raised and he said that yes they were captive bred(!!!) I am very excited because there is a good chance this means they will be tougher and also not come in laden with parasites. I know they have been bred by scientists, but I believe it is a difficult process, so it is cool to see it has trickled down to fish breeders!

Anyway I ordered 17 for a species tank I have been wanting to do, and I am excited to see how they compare to wild caught ENs I have had int he past! Anyone else ever come across captive bred ENs?
 
Will do! If anyone is familiar with Jack Heathcote's giant aquarium (biggest in UK I think), here is an article about another of his amazing tanks, his Elephant nose community aquarium : http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/content.php?sid=6463
(scroll down past the section on his Altum angel tank to read about his EN tank)

That is very similar to how I plan to keep them - my tank has a similar footprint, but less height, and I won't have so many tank mates, and it will be a planted tank. Right now all that will be with them are a few Ropefish, an African knifefish, and a couple small spiny eels. I may eventually put in some kind of top dweller like hatchet fish, butterflyfish, or mini pike, or possibly some Satanaperca, since I have found they have trouble competing for food in aquariums with other cichlids/fast eaters. Or maybe instead I'll try discus or angels. We will see, right now I will just be designing everything around the ENs, and seeing where that takes me.
 
I haven't received them yet, because by the time we ordered they were out of stock. However the supplier said they get the Captive bred ones every other week, so I should get some this week. Apparently there is some private breeder in the Chicago area that is regularly breeding the ENs as well as Ghost Knives, and supplying this wholesaler with them. Pretty dang cool - I wish I knew who it was because it'd be very interesting to hear what method he uses...
 
I'VE GOT THEM!! After delays of them being sold out, then traveling for the holidays and work, I just got in my captive bred elephantnose fish! I ordered 17, but the LFS upped it to 20... 2 came in dead, another two look to be dying, and one is just missing his entire tail/back-end (but it's an old wound and seems healed). I bought 16 and the LFS gave me the "dying one" and the maimed one. So I have 18, but expect to lose a few... the kicker is they range in size from the size an adult neon tetra to the size of an adult glowlight tetra - they are tiny!!

I'm hoping the advantages of them being captive bred and raised in the same Lake Michigan water I have will outweigh the delicacy of their size. They are going in a 90g planted tank, with a school of little Harlequin Rasboras.

Any suggestion on what to feed them? They have tiny mouths for their size so right now that is my main concern.
 
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Nice pick up and looking forward to seeing how they progress. Try some black or blood worms.
 
That's what I was planning to feed them - but they are the same length as a large blackworm, and even the small bloodworms seems too big to me. What else can I feed that is smaller? Also what would be the best temperature for them at this size?
 
Try chopping them up and they will pick it up and mash it in their mouths.
 
Well I already notice a difference between these ones and the wild caught ones I had before - they seem to be out cruising right away, even under the fairly bright lights. My wild caught ones were extremely shy at first; it took several months before they would come out much during the day. I don't think there is any way I will end up with more than 15-16 between the ones that don't seem so hot, but I'd be thrilled if that many survive.

I think I may try putting the blood worms in the food processor to get them tiny enough. The problem is that ENs have extremely weak jaws. Six inchers can't even really eat a small red wiggler. I also have rotifers I'm going to try... not sure if they will eat those or not... I may also pick up some daphnia. Any other ideas for food?
 
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