Ropefish

Erpetoichthys calabaricus

Also known as Reedfish, Rope fish

FreshwaterFish

Ropefish (Erpetoichthys calabaricus) — Michał Zalewski · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature: 73–86°F; 23–30°C
pH: 6.0–8.0
Adult size: 14.6 in; 37 cm
Minimum tank: 143 gal; 540 L

Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Solitary
Tankmates: With caution
Swim level: Bottom
Diet: Carnivore
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Very rare
Family: Polypteridae
Origin: Congo Basin, Angola, Nigeria

Overview

The ropefish is a peaceful, eel-shaped fish that comes out at night. It is easy to look after.

Did you know

The ropefish is a determined escape artist. It can breathe air and survive out of water for hours as long as it stays damp. It will slip through any small gap in the lid and travel a surprising distance across the floor.

Caring for the ropefish

The ropefish is a long fish that needs a tank of at least 143 gal (540 L). Provide soft sand it can nose through and dense cover from wood, rockwork and plants. Seal every gap in a tight lid, including around filters and cords. Leave open air above the water so it can surface to breathe.

Keep the water at 73 to 86°F (23 to 30°C) with a pH of 6.0 to 8.0 and gentle flow. It spends the day tucked under wood and rockwork and glides out to forage after dark. Feed meaty foods such as earthworms, prawns and mussel in the evening.

The ropefish is peaceful and gentle toward tank mates its own size. It will eat very small fish and shrimp, though, so choose companions it cannot swallow. It is fine in groups of its own kind. Aquarium spawning is rarely recorded.

Good to know

The ropefish, also called the reedfish, belongs to Polypteridae, an ancient lineage of ray-finned fish. It has a slender, snake-like body covered in hard, glossy ganoid scales. It lacks the pelvic fins its bichir relatives keep. Like all polypterids, it has paired, lung-like swim bladders and breathes atmospheric air.

In the wild

Erpetoichthys calabaricus lives in slow, warm fresh waters of West and Central Africa, from Nigeria through the Congo basin to Angola. It is found in vegetated rivers, swamps and estuaries that are often low in oxygen. Its ability to breathe air lets it live there.

From published sources

Tank mates

Each fish here is named as a tank mate for the ropefish by at least two published care guides. Add tank mates as adults, since a ropefish eats any fish small enough to swallow.

Sources: Seriously Fish, Fishkeeper (Maidenhead Aquatics), Fishkeeping World, Aquarium Source.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a ropefish need?

A ropefish needs at least 143 gal (540 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a ropefish need?

A ropefish is comfortable at 73–86°F (23–30°C) with a pH of 6.0–8.0.

What does a ropefish eat?

A ropefish eats meaty foods such as earthworms, prawns and mussel, fed in the evening. It will also eat very small fish and shrimp.

How big does a ropefish get?

An adult ropefish reaches about 14.6 in (37 cm).

What fish can live with the ropefish?

Published care guides name angelfish, featherfin squeaker, severum and silver shark, among others. Add tank mates as adults, since a ropefish eats any fish small enough to swallow.