An ideal diet for a Rope Fish should consist of the following items:
- Bloodworms
- Mussels
- Insect Larvae
- Small Prawns
- Chopped Meat
- Calamari
- Mosquito Larvae
- Brine Shrimps
- Mysis Shrimps
- Earthworms
How to feed a rope fish?
The easiest way to feed a rope fish is to give it with large bloodworms or worms. The fish is a predator, so it will hunt small fishes, especially at night. If you feed the fish with pieces of calamari and prawns – this is good food for it.
What kind of fish is ropefish?
Everything about ropefish (lat. Erpetoichthys calabaricus) is uncommon – its behavior in a tank, appearance and even its name. It has several ones: ropefish (or rope fish), reed fish, snakefish, african rope fish.
Do rope fish eat bloodworms?
This is especially important, if a ropefish has fast and omnivorous tank mates. The thing is that when looking for food a rope fish uses its perfect smell and sense of touch. The fish may swim close to a large bloodworm and won’t see it unless it touches the bloodworm with its barbels.
What size aquarium do rope fish need?
What Size Aquarium do they need? A rope fish will need at least a 45-gallon tank. A larger one will need an even bigger tank, so it’s safer to use a 50+ gallon tank. Try to choose a tank with as much floor space as possible, instead of a really tall one. Each additional rope fish you add will need roughly 10 gallons.
How much should I feed my Ropefish?
Feed them just before you turn out their light. They can go long periods without food in the wild but should be given a steady diet in captivity. You could choose to give them a little bit of food every day (e.g. 1-2 shrimp) or give them larger portions (e.g. 2-4 shrimp) every other day.
Can rope fish eat fish food?
The species is carnivorous, and in their natural environment dine on insects, worms, small fish, frogs and crustaceans. In captivity, you can feed your rope fish meaty live or frozen foods, such as prawns, chopped meats, insect larva, earthworms, mussel and live blood worms (a rope fish favorite).
What do reed fish eat?
As a nocturnal species, Reed Fish are most active during the night when they will spend time searching for and feeding on crustaceans, insects, and worms.
Do Ropefish eat snails?
Small chunks of shrimp, fish, squid, or earthworm work equally well. Be mindful that this species are piscivorous and will eat small fish, shrimp, and snails if they can locate them. The greatest challenge when it comes to feeding Rope fish is ensuring that they are actually eating.
How can you tell if a Ropefish is male or female?
It is important to note that the sex of the rope fish can be determined by studying the anal fins. The anal fins of a male are broader and separated by 12-15 rays, usually separate from the caudal fin. While the female's anal fin is separated by only 8-12 rays, eventually merging with the caudal fin.
Is a Ropefish a snake?
The reedfish, ropefish (more commonly used in the United States), or snakefish, Erpetoichthys calabaricus, is a species of fish in the bichir family and order. It is the only member of the genus Erpetoichthys. It is native to fresh and brackish waters in West and Central Africa.
Can you breed Ropefish?
It is extremely difficult to breed Rope Fish in captivity for several reasons. One of them is the difficulty in telling male and female specimens apart. The conditions in which they breed are known but what encourages them to breed is not.
Can rope fish eat flakes?
Yes, rope fish can eat flakes. Most of the species of rope fish prefer to eat live food.
Can rope fish live out of water?
Rope Fish Behavior in Aquariums A unique feature of a rope fish is that it can survive out of water for hours, because it possesses both lungs and gills. The fish are mostly nocturnal; however, they occasionally do come out during the day.
What is rope fish?
The rope fish (Erpetoichthys calabaricus), is a species of freshwater fish in the bichir family, popular aquarium fish. It is interesting to watch reed fish in a tank, easy to keep it but you should bare in mind that its tank mates must be average or large sized. Rope fish takes smaller fish species as a food, since it is a predator by its nature.
Why is it important to keep a ropefish in a tank?
The most important thing is to make sure that your fish gets food in general and is not starving. This is especially important, if a ropefish has fast and omnivorous tank mates . The thing is that when looking for food a rope fish uses its perfect smell and sense of touch.
How long does an Erpetoichthys calabaricus live?
However, in a tank the fish grows to become up to 37 cm (15 in). The lifespan is about 6-8 years.
Why do ropefish stay out of water?
Because of low oxygen content in water ropefish has got used to get to water surface from time to time and breathe with atmospheric air. They even have lungs for this, with their help the reed fish can stay out of water for some time (at the condition of high humidity outside).
How to close chinks in fish tank?
If there are any chinks in a tank for tubes and wires, you’d better close them with a sponge. If you are performing water renew, cleaning the tank etc. and you need to leave the tank for some period of time, either ask someone to stay and watch the fish or close the tank tightly with a lid.
What do predator fish eat?
Predator fishes as a rule are active at twilight and at night. This one feeds on small animals, but first of all on insects and worms. African rope fish looks for food by means of its organ of smell, since the fish has rather poor eyesight.
What does a fish's pectoral fin look like?
Pectoral fins of the fish are orange or yellow and they make it look a bit funny, since they are close to its head and look like “ears”. So when you watch fish in a tank it seems that it is swimming and waving its ears fast.
What is a ropefish?
Ropefish, or Erpetoichthys Calabaricus, also known as the reedfish or snakefish, make attractive community members in freshwater aquariums. They are fun to observe, easy to keep, and are relatively hardy fish. Anyone planning to keep these fish should have a secure aquarium lid as they are known to escape from their enclosure. Very small fish should be avoided as tankmates lest they find themselves on the dinner menu.
How long do ropefish live?
With proper care and conscientious feeding habits, Ropefish can live for years as undemanding and intriguing specimens.
What are the best foods for a ropefish?
Bloodworms and other small worms are eagerly accepted and readily available from local pet stores. Small chunks of shrimp, fish, squid, or earthworm work equally well. Be mindful that this species are piscivorous and will eat small fish, shrimp, and snails if they can locate them.
Is a ropefish a living fossil?
Their anatomy and behavior exemplify their status as “living fossils.”
Do rope fish jump out of tanks?
Remember, Rope fish are known for jumping out of tanks, so a secure lid is a necessity when it comes to keeping these fish.
What do eel fish eat?
With most eel-like fish, the one food guaranteed to get them eating is earthworms. They love 'em! More so even than feeder fish I suspect... lots of meat, but no bones!
How big should a squid tank be?
Should be fine. They don't grow very fast, and they don't get nearly so big in captivity as in the wild. A specimen 60 cm long in a home aquarium would be remarkable. Baensch (vol. 1) suggests a minimum tank length of 100 cm, so I think your tank should be fine. Do try and keep them in a group though, as they are much happier that way than singly.
Do knife fish eat rope fish?
The Knife fish seems to be eating just fine, however the two Rope Fish seem to be quite shy when it comes to feeding time.
What is a rope fish?
The rope fish (also known as the African rope fish or reed fish) is a very unique freshwater fish that adds a different dynamic to the aesthetic of your tank. While they’ve gotten a little more popular in recent years, the rope fish has had an avid following in the freshwater aquarist community for quite some time.
How long do rope fish live?
Lifespan. The average rope fish lifespan is 15 to 20 years in captivity. This is a very impressive length of time which means you’ll likely have yours for a while! It’s important to note that this is assuming that your rope fish is getting proper care.
How big do rope fish get?
Size. The average rope fish size can reach just over two feet in length when fully grown. This makes for quite a sight while they swim and means that you’ll need to provide them with ample space to keep them comfortable (more on that in the following section).
Why are rope fish hardy?
One interesting thing about rope fish is the fact that they have both lungs and gills. This combination allows them to get oxygen in varying levels of water quality (and is partly why they’re so hardy).
What is the hardness of rope fish?
Water hardness: 8-22 KH. You should always make sure to perform regular water level checks to ensure the conditions are suitable for your rope fish. While these fish are hardy and can handle a wide range of levels, they can be sensitive to shifts within that range.
Where do rope fish come from?
They originate from Central and West Africa in countries like Cameroon and Nigeria. They prefer standing or slow-moving water that’s on the warm side.
Can you keep rope fish in a community tank?
There are a number of rope fish tank mates that you can pick from if you want to keep these fish in a community tank.
How many rope fish can you keep in a group?
Rope fish can live in schools with others of their own kind easily, as they are non-aggressive and friendly. Aquarists have been known to keep up to six rope fish in a group together with no issues. However, the size of the tank required will increase with each rope fish you add to it, due to their length.
What is the best fish to keep in a home aquarium?
Rope fish are among some of the best fish to keep in your home aquarium. However, their size and care requirements mean the tank needs to be maintained closely to keep the rope fish healthy. Let’s take a closer look at the tank requirements for proper rope fish care.
Why is it so hard to breed rope fish?
This is because natural rope fish habitat conditions are nearly impossible to replicate sufficiently for breeding to occur naturally.
How long does a rope fish grow?
Rope fish will grow quite long for a typical freshwater aquarium fish. For healthy adults, by the time they finish growing they will be around 15 to 20 inches long, with a thick, cylindrical body, making them one of the larger species of aquarium pets.
What is the most unique fish?
And one of the most unique fish you can find for your aquarium is the rope fish —with the appearance of an underwater snake, unique and quirky personalities, and very gentle dispositions, the rope snake is a great choice for aquarists.
Why do rope fish need a bigger tank?
Because of their size, rope fish require a larger tank set up to accommodate their activities comfortably. And, if you want to keep other fish with your rope fish, they need to be larger in size as well to avoid any accidental rope fish snacking.
How big of a tank do you need for a rope fish?
Because they are a larger species, they need a sizable tank—about 45 to 50 gallons at minimum for one rope fish. And with each additional rope fish you add, you should increase the size of the tank by 10 gallons.
Rope Fish Facts & Overview
Appearance
- They look like ropes, snakes, and reeds, which is why their names haven’t needed to be too imaginative. It’s their distinct appearance that makes them such exotic fish. They have a long cylindrical body that reaches lengths of up to 15 inches. If you haven’t done your research then their size can take you by surprise, so make sure your tank is big enough. Their whole body is co…
Habitat and Tank Conditions
- 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 waterwith a neutral pH, perhaps slightly alkaline. Water movement would be low but plenty of lig…
Diet
- 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...
Care
- It can be daunting to purchase a fish like this. They look different to ‘normal’ fish, so you might think that they’re hard to care for. This isn’t true; we’ve already discussed how they have similar needs to most species. A well setup tankshould keep them healthy. They’re a hardy species, accommodating a range of conditions and proving resistant to disease. They don’t cope well wit…
Breeding
- Successfully breeding this species in captivity is almost unheard of and unlikely to happen without hormone injections. If you’re going to give this a try, then raising the temperature slightly and adding more tall plants (like Water Wisteria) might help to encourage breeding. To court, a male and female will swim around the tank together. Once the female is ready they’ll sit motionless w…
Are Rope Fish Suitable For Your Aquarium?
- You can’t add these fish into any old tank, there are a few things you need to consider. The main limitations are tank mates. If you have small fish, then they will soon be eaten. Rope fish need large, peaceful tank mates that won’t fit in their mouths as a snack. In the wild, they can be found in African rivers that contain lots of other tropical fish species. Consequently, rope fish prefer wa…
Habitat in The Wild
Description
Difficulties in Keeping
Keeping in A Tank
Feeding
- The easiest way to feed a rope fish is to give it with large bloodworms or worms. The fish is a predator, so it will hunt small fishes, especially at night. If you feed the fish with pieces of calamari and prawns – this is good food for it. As for the dry food, for example, pellets for bottom dwellers – fish may eat them sometimes, but this is more...
Tank Mates
Gender Differences: Male vs Female
Breeding