All fish / Phractolaemidae

Hingemouth

Phractolaemus ansorgii

Also known as african mudfish, snake mudfish, hinge mouth, hingemouth fish, ansorge's hingemouth

The hingemouth is a slender, dull brown fish with a small upturned mouth that it can extend forwards on a hinge to pick food from the substrate. It is the only member of its family and a distant relative of milkfish, so it is mostly kept by enthusiasts of odd and unusual species. It can gulp air from the surface, which helps it cope in warm, oxygen-poor swamp water.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

14 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

120 litres

Keep as

Singly or in a small group of 3 or more

Diet

Carnivore: bloodworm, blackworm, brine shrimp, small crustaceans and sinking pellets

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

West and Central Africa: Niger Delta in Nigeria and the Congo basin (DR Congo)

Breeding

Little is known about its breeding, and spawning in home aquariums has rarely, if ever, been recorded. Males develop small tubercles on the head during the breeding season.

Good to know

Seldom seen in the trade and often shy, so give soft sand, dim lighting and plenty of cover, and avoid boisterous tankmates that outcompete it for food. Keep the tank covered and allow access to surface air.