This paper is the first detailed analysis of situation‐specific temporal patterning of electric organ discharges (EODs) in a strong electric fish. Using a resident‐intruder paradigm EODs were recorded during interactions between dyads composed ofMalapterurus electricus(Gmelin) and four different types of fish: (1) conspecifics; (2) large prey‐type mid‐water fish, goldfish (Carassius auratus, Linnaeus 1758) and tilapia (Oreochromis melanotheron, Rüppel, 1852); (3) a sympatric competitor,Polypterus palmas(Ayres 1850) and (4) a larger, threatening catfish,Clariassp.An analysis of the EODs emitted showed that in the presence of conspecifics the average EOD volley consisted of a single long‐duration, low frequency train of EODs. The presence of the midwater fish (goldfish and Tilapia) elicited volleys consisting of two short trains, andP. palmaselicited long duration volleys with two trains and long inter‐train intervals. Finally, an attackingClariasresulted on average in volleys consisting of two high‐frequency trains of EODs. With nonconspecific partner species resident electric catfish emitted volleys with more pulses, more trains that were longer in duration and higher in frequency than the EODs in volleys emitted by intruder electric catfish with the same species