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Encyclopedia / Oddballs & Predators / Ropefish
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Photo by Igor Balashov, CC BY · source · credits

Variations

1 kinds · tap one for a closer look

Ropefish

Erpetoichthys calabaricus · Reedfish, Snakefish

Peaceful but eats tiny fish; escapes through any gap.

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40 cmBody length, without tail ✓
24–28 °CTemperature ✓
6.5–7.5pH ✓
540 LSmallest tank ✓
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Tank mates
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Not recommended
  • Ropefish eats animals up to about 3 cm. Neon tetra only grows to 2.5 cm.
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 24–25 °C.
Not recommended
  • Ropefish eats animals up to about 3 cm. Cardinal tetra only grows to 3 cm.
Not recommended
  • Ropefish eats animals up to about 3 cm. Ember tetra only grows to 2 cm.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: exactly 24 °C.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 24–25 °C.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

389 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ✓5–20 dGH
Group size ?2 or more
Temperament ✓Peaceful
Swims at ✓Bottom
Care level ✓Moderate
Diet Carnivore
Lifespan ?Unknown
Size in shops 15–20 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Peaceful but eats tiny fish; escapes through any gap.

Food

Frozen bloodworms, worms.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

Males have more dorsal finlets (12-14 vs 9-12 in females), and in breeding condition the male's anal fin swells and thickens.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Rarely bred in captivity ·

Not bred to adulthood in captivity; spawning has rarely been seen. The female places small batches of eggs between the male's anal fins, he fertilises them and spreads them over plants, where they stick.

Pairing

Adults.

Setup

Large tank.

What starts it

Unknown.

Eggs

Few eggs per batch, laid repeatedly; larvae hatch after about 70 hours.

Raising the fry

Brine shrimp.

Common mistakes
  • Space
  • Escape
  • Poor water
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionWest Africa – Nigeria, Benin & Cameroon
Rivers and lakesCoastal rivers and the Niger delta
HabitatSlow, vegetated swamps
Native rangeAbout 500 km across
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The story of the ropefish

A snake-like relative of the bichirs (family Polypteridae) with a pair of lungs, so it can breathe air and survive oxygen-poor water; it can drown if it cannot reach the surface.

The ropefish was described in 1865 from the Old Calabar region of Nigeria, which gave it its species name. It is a long, eel-like relative of the bichirs. It breathes air using lungs and can survive in poorly oxygenated swamps.

First described by Smith in 1865. Named for Named after Old Calabar, Nigeria.

  • It breathes air with lungs.
  • It is related to bichirs.
  • It is a notorious escape artist, so tanks need a tight lid.

Sources

16 facts checked with sources