Baby Dolphin

The baby dolphin, or bottlenose mormyrid (Mormyrus longirostris), is an African river fish named for its smooth grey body and long downturned snout, which give it a passing resemblance to a bottlenose dolphin. Like other mormyrids it produces a weak electric field and uses it to navigate and locate food in dark or silty water, which is why it stays active and oriented in conditions where most fish would struggle. It grows well beyond the size at which it is usually sold.

Aquarium care

• Soft sand substrate. The snout is used to probe the bottom and is damaged by sharp gravel.
• Wants shade, wood and caves; it is most active in low light and after dark.
• Sensitive to poor water quality, so a mature filter and regular water changes matter.
• Often reluctant to take dry food; frozen bloodworm and similar meaty foods are usually accepted first.
• Can be intolerant of its own kind in a small tank, so keep one or give a group real space.
• Treat cautiously with medications; mormyrids react badly to a number of common treatments.

A fish for a keeper with a large, quiet, well-established tank who is happy to work around a nocturnal animal. Calm, similarly sized companions are best. Fin-nippers, aggressive cichlids and anything small enough to be eaten are all poor matches.

Stock rotates with each shipment, and livestock is sold for local pickup at our Lethbridge store. See the freshwater fish collection for current stock.