Rope Fish – 15cm

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R265.00

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Please note that fish image is a representation of what the fish might look like as an adult.

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R265.00

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With its eel-like appearance, the Rope Fish attracts those who want something different.  They’re long living, peaceful carnivores that get on well with other large, peaceful fish. This makes them great for both species only tanks and community aquariums.  Adult size: 38 cm,

Though they’re not the most colorful species, adding rope fish changes the dynamics of a tank with their unique appearance and behaviors.  Their appearance can scare people away as they assume they must be hard to care for. This is not true. Although a little bit of experience is useful, this is an undemanding species that is relatively easy to care for.

Rope fish are known under a few different names, including Reed Fish, Snake Fish, African Rope Fish and their Latin name Erpetoichthys calabaricus. They belong to the Polypteridae family and are a freshwater species living in slow-moving rivers across West and Central Africa. They can be found in Benin, Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, and Nigeria.

Behaviour

You may find that they are more active at night as in the wild they would hunt at night and sneak up on their prey. However, if you feed them during the daytime, they will eventually become more active through the day.  They spend most of their time in the lower levels of the aquarium. They may head up to the surface to breathe, since they have both gills and primitive lungs. You only tend to see this behavior in oxygen-poor environments.

They are interesting to watch as they move around the tank. Their body bends into waves like an eel to create thrust which helps them move.

Rope fish aren’t an aggressive species and you generally won’t see them attacking tank mates. The only exception is smaller fish might be eaten after being mistaken for food.

Tank Conditions

One thing to watch out for is their ability to jump. A tight fitting tank cover is mandatory!

Though they look very different to most fish, rope fish live in similar environments to other common fish species. The natural habitat for rope fish would be brackish/fresh water in tropical areas. They are usually found in rivers such as the Ogun River in Nigeria. These areas have warm water with a neutral pH, perhaps slightly alkaline. Water movement would be low but plenty of light would be available.

They are also found in low oxygen environments; they can survive here because of their primitive lungs.

Cover the bottom of the aquarium with a layer of sandy substrate. The fine grains will ensure that the fish won’t scratch themselves.  Above this layer it’s important to place some decorations. Use rocks to form some caves for shelter. They will spend a lot of time hiding here, especially in the day if they’re not used to daytime feeding.

Since rope fish are carnivorous, you can safely add plants without them being eaten. They prefer well planted aquariums so you can include Java Fern and Amazon Swords.

Compatibility

Choosing the right tank mates is crucial because rope fish are predators and will likely eat smaller fish. This is a peaceful species so there are plenty of options when choosing some tank mates.

Since they are a predator, which means they will eat fish if they’re hungry, even though this isn’t their main food source in the wild. They won’t be able to distinguish between the foods you give them and any snack-sized tank mates. Small fish like tetras, danios, and harlequins will start to disappear.

Any fish you do keep need to be larger than a rope fish’s mouth so that they can’t be eaten.  A few good examples include Angelfish, Bala Sharks, Clown Loaches, Dwarf Gouramis, Glass Catfish, Pictus Catfish, Plecostomus, Rainbow Sharks, Siamese Algae Eaters and Yo-yo Loaches.

Another thing to consider is the temperament of the tank mates. Aggressive, territorial species will harass the rope fish. Aggressive cichlids (such as Convicts and Oscars) should be avoided along with invertebrates. Small shrimp and snail species will be treated as food. Some people actually choose to add these into the tank as part of their diet.

Feeding

Rope fish are carnivores. In the wild they would eat crustaceans, insects, and worms. They also eat fish, but this is usually the last choice. This means that they will eat small fish in your tank, so you need to be careful with your tank mate choices.

They’re nocturnal creatures, resting in the day and feeding at night. They’ll quickly learn your feeding routines though and can start feeding during the daytime.

Though they don’t eat vegetation, there are still lots that you can feed them.  Usually the easiest options are store-bought flake and pellet foods, but this species doesn’t always accept dried foods.  Meaty frozen foods are the best choice. Smaller fish will happily eat bloodworms, brine shrimp, and mosquito larvae. Once they’re a little bigger you can move onto larger shrimps (like Mysis Shrimp), prawns, and even earthworms.  Rebel Pets has Fish Food for Carnivores.

Live foods can be introduced too. They’re a bit more engaging for your rope fish and encourage some natural behaviors.  They rely heavily on their sense of smell to find food. This sometimes means that they go hungry if they’re in a tank with other meat-eating fish.

Care

If you design their environment properly and keep it clean, then they’re fairly easy to keep and care for.  They can live stress-free in brackish water. If you choose to keep them in salt water, then limit salinity to 1.020.

This predator can create a lot of organic waste so a canister filter and regular cleaning is ideal. You don’t need to add an air pump to keep the water moving, these fish are used to slow-moving tropical rivers.

See Fish Disease Diagnosis and Treatment at Rebel Pets for help with diagnosing and treating diseases.

Category Rating
Adult Size: 38 cm
Aquarist Experience Level: Intermediate due to size
Minimum Tank Size: 170 litres
Temperament: Peaceful and large
Tank Level: Bottom dweller
Diet: Omnivore, eats most foods
Aquarium Hardiness: Hardy
Lifespan: 15 – 20 Years
Water Flow: Moderate
Temperature: 22 to 28°C
pH: 6.7 – 7.8
Hardness:  4 – 18 dGH (soft)

Shipping Countries: South Africa


Shipping States: Gauteng (South Africa)


Specification: Rope Fish – 15cm

Weight 0.25 kg

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