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I was wondering if anyone could tell me a bit about these fish. Like size,feeding,care, and so on?

Time for me to resurrect an old post of mine

Rope Fish or reed Fish

The Rope Fish or Reed Fish (Erpetoichthys calabaricus), which was formerly known as Calamoichthys calabaricus, is often known as the Duck-Billed Platypus Of The Fish World. This is because it contains a conglomeration of anatomical features that do not usually occur together, features which are found singly in other fishes from a bewildering cross-section of piscine taxonomy. based upon comparison of the articulation of the bones of the skull, the Reed Fish is one of the few living direct descendants of the first primitive ray-finned bony fishes of the Order Palaeonsiciformes, dating from the Middle Devonian (circa 410 million years ago). It also possesses the scale structure of the Palaeonisciformes (diamond-shaped ganoid scales, each coupled to its neighbours by peg and socket arrangements forming an external mailed armour), which is also seen in the Garfishes (to which it is only distantly related). It also possesses lobed fins resembling those of the primitive but still extant Coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae), a fish which arose from an entirely different evolutionary line (Crossopterygiformes). It also has a spiracle on either side of the head, structurally very similar to that of certain cartilaginous fishes such as the pelagic sharks (to which again, it is only very distantly related). To confuse matters further, the natatory vesicle (swim bladder) is modified into a lung-like structure similar to the lungfishes of the Lepidosireniformes (to which it is not very closely related either), it has no pelvic fins (even the pelvic girdle is absent), and its dorsal fin consists of ten separate independently moveable finlets that are identical in appearance (and possibly even in structure) to those of Birkenia, an extinct jawless fish of the late Silurian (circa 450 million years ago). Finally, its olfactory sensors are located at the ends of two tubes that protrude from the snout - the only other fishes that possess this feature are the Bichirs of the family Polypteridae, and it is to this unusual family of living fossils (sharing many of the Reed Fish's anatomical curiosities) that the Reed Fish belongs.

It is possible to keep the Reed Fish in an aquarium, as it adapts to a wide range of foods, and is relatively hardy with respect to water chemistry and temperature. However, it will attain a length of something like three feet (100 cm), and cannot be kept with any fish small enough for it to swallow, as it is naturally predatory. Its pleasing green and orange colouration, and its unusual swimming technique (it frequently 'sidewinds' like some desert rattlesnakes) make it fascinating to watch, as does its habit of spending long periods of time motionless in odd positions, as if contemplating some arcane philosophical notion. A favourite resting position is upon the aquarium bottom, the anterior end of the body looped back in a side-on U shape, head suspended some way above the substrate, sometimes in a seemingly gravity-defying manner.

An aquarium housing a Reed Fish needs to be securely covered with a heavy top, as it is an astonishing escapologist - it will even attempt to exit through the tiny openings for heater cables, and is capable of squeezing itself through remarkably narrow gaps. If it cannot exit the aquarium in this fashion, it will sometimes attempt to crash through the aquarium hood! It can survive low oxygen content, suspended matter in the water, and can survive for at least an hour out of water - it can, in the wild, make short overland journeys between pools. The aquarium needs power filtration, as its appetite (and its resultant ability to foul the water) is prodigious, and a large specimen needs robust aquarium furnishings as its powerful musculature enables it to rearrange the decor if it so wishes! It may even be necessary to cement the decor in place using silicone adhesive before filling the aquarium & introducing the Reed Fish. This would rule out undergravel filtration, but since the Reed Fish needs a high-capacity external power filter anyway (which usually means one of those desirable but ever so expensive Eheim units, preferably with a minimum turnover of 400 gallons per hour), this won't be a major problem. It WILL be a major problem with respect to plants - only the largest and most robust aquarium plants can withstand the Reed Fish's tendency to rearrange the decor to suit itself. Most of the decor will consist of large bogwood roots anyway. In addition, the aquarium glass should be specially toughened for large specimens: the Reed Fish has been known to try and break out of an aquarium by battering its way through the front glass, and so, this needs to be borne in mind when constructing a home for it. Aquarium technology fitments (filter tubes, heaters etc) will probably need protection from breakage, as this fish can be extraordinarily strong. In effect, one needs to construct the aquarium equivalent of a maximum-security prison to prevent this fish from making a break for the outside world, with the sometimes catastrophic consequences that ensue from such breakouts! Additionally, the water level needs to be set in order to allow the Reed Fish to take atmospheric air at the correct angle, much as is the case for Lungfishes (Lepidosirenidae and allies). Incorrect water levels probably contribute to its escape attempts.

Currently, I have heard no reports of sucessful captive breeding. Partly because an aquarium large enough to house more than one of these fishes safely (in case territorial disputes become violent - no-one has, to my knowledge, kept more than one Reed Fish together in an aquarium) would be of a prodigious size, and impractical for the home aquarist. Whether a large public aquarium has successfully maintained more than one Reed Fish in the aquarium (such an institution would have the space) is unknown to me currently. I have no information regarding territoriality in this species, but would err on the side of caution if attempting to keep more than one together, and provide lots of space and hiding places. However, clues may be provided by the Bichirs from the same family - the Ornate Bichir (Polypterus ornatipinnis) has been bred successfully in captivity, so check the breeding information for that species, as it may provide valuable cluse with respect to the Reed Fish, as they belong to the same family!

Should anyone here on this board be thinking of keeping this oddity, then the initial investment in equipment (including the necessary reinforcements to handle its more destructive attempts at escapology) will be pretty expensive. But, if the idea of keeping a living fossil, and moreover one that combines such a bizarre collection of features from across the piscine taxonomic spectrum, is an idea that appeals, the Reed Fish could prove to be a surprisingly rewarding addition to any collection of 'oddballs'.


Last edited by Calilasseia at 03-Jan-2006 00:31

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Ropefish are pretty much model citizens, though, of course, fish small enough to be ingested should not be kept with. The species is, by nature, quite fond of digging itself deep into sand beds and are sociable and even shy towards conspecifics and other fish. Robust and otherwise aggressive fish will be an issue. They are incredibly flexible and can fit quite comfortably in a 75 gallon aquarium. The general consensus is that one specimen should have cover enough to encompass the etirety of its body. Thi is, of course, most easily achieved with a sand bed, though if you feel up to constructing a veritable maze of pvc, that's fine too. I've never found water level to be an issue, and our ropefish usually do quite well at the store, though they seem to sell fairly quickly due to their bizzare appearance.

So I should feed it everything basically?

If you decide to keep one of these truly bizarre living fossils, then meaty foods will be the mainstay of its diet. Chances are as it grows, it will ADORE earthworms!

However, as I said above, this fish is an EXTREMELY accomplished escape artist, and so you might wish to consider some means of ensuring that it can't dislodge the hood as it grows older - with a large specimen, it's not overdoing things to set the aquarium up so that you can padlock the lid to it!

Be advised that it is a VERY muscular fish, and so, if it decides to rearrange the décor, or try to batter its way out of the top, it'll take considerable ingenuity to restrain it, and you should take this and its Houdini tendencies into consideration before purchasing.

Personally, this fish is so different from most other aquarium occupants that it deserves a species aquarium constructed to suit it. Hardiness isn't a major problem, it'll accept most reasonably habitabl water, but it DOES have one or two specialised requirements as stated above.


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002