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No federal permit to keepReedfish
Erpetoichthys calabaricus
Fishes › Bichirs and ropefish (Polypteriformes) › Polypteridae (Bichirs and ropefish)
The reedfish, ropefish (more commonly used in the United States), or snakefish, Erpetoichthys calabaricus, is a species of fish in the family Polypteridae alongside the bichirs.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 60 in long and 30 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 14.6 in / 37 cm).
- Water: Freshwater (tolerates brackish).
- Temperature: 72–82°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 6–8.
- Hardness: 5–19 dGH.
- Layout: Lives on or near the bottom: floor space and hiding places matter more than height.
- Diet: A predator: feed meaty foods sized to its mouth (frozen fish, shrimp, worms); it will eat tankmates that fit in its mouth. FishBase classes it as a carnivore.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 59 × 24 in (roughly 143 US gallons); space needed is rated “very large tank”.
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 73–86 °F, pH 6–7.5, 5–20 dGH.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “A densely planted aquarium with a soft substrate and pieces of driftwood forming hiding places is ideal for this fish.”
- Tankmates: “Not to be trusted with tankmates it can fit in its mouth but is relatively peaceful otherwise.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Bichirs and ropefish
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: These African freshwater bottom predators use rivers and vegetated shallow waters, with ropefish especially associated with dense vegetation (rope, setup). Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Small bichirs such as P. senegalus: published minimum footprint 122 × 38 cm; small/medium groups: 153 × 46 cm (setup).
- Large P. ornatipinnis, endlicherii and bichir: published starting footprint 183 × 61 cm; assess the actual adult size and stocking (setup).
- Adult ropefish: Seriously Fish specifies 150 × 60 × 60 cm, approximately 540 L (rope).
- Use heavy, tight lids, seal cable gaps, and leave an air gap with unobstructed surface access (setup, rope).
- Provide soft sand, wood/cave refuges and subdued lighting (setup).
- Provide ample biological filtration and protect heaters from physical damage (setup).
Climate & lighting
| Water | 77–82.4°F |
Diet
- Earthworms (rope).
- Prawns and mussel meat (rope).
- Bloodworms for appropriately sized specimens (rope).
Social life
- Avoid swallowable companions; ropefish can live in groups but lose food to vigorous feeders (rope).
Health watch
- Ammonia toxicity from inadequate biofiltration (fish_health).
- Parasitic skin and gill infections (fish_health).
- Nutritional deficiencies from unsuitable diets (fish_health).
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
It is the only member of the genus Erpetoichthys. It is native to fresh and brackish waters in West and Central Africa.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Reedfish” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater and brackish water, in rivers and streams. Stays near the bottom. Found in slow flowing rivers and standing waters. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater / brackish water, 72–82 °F (22–28 °C), pH 6–8, hardness 5–19 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Wild diet | Hunting macrofauna (predator). |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: open water/substratum egg scatterers. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 72–82 °F.
- It tolerates or needs brackish water; check salinity needs before setup.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 91°F (up to 92°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 71°F (down to 65°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 76–80°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 82–85% on average (driest month about 78%) |
| Rainfall | about 2451 mm a year |
Measured at 19 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | The reedfish, ropefish (more commonly used in the United States), or snakefish, Erpetoichthys calabaricus, is a species of fish in the family Polypteridae alongside the bichirs. It is the only member of the genus Erpetoichthys. It is native to fresh and brackish waters in West and Central Africa. The reedfish possesses a pair of lungs in addition to gills, allowing it to survive in very oxygen-poor water. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Wild diet | Erpetoichthys clabaricus is an omnivore. — Animal Diversity Web |
| Behavior | Erpetoichthys calabaricus has no defined social system, although they tend to congregate when they are in an aquarium. — Animal Diversity Web |
| Reproduction | Parallel swimming courtship; female deposits few eggs between anal fins of male, where they are fertilized and then scattered in vegetation where they immediately stick to substrate. This procedure is repeated many times. Eggs are 2.1-2.6 mm in diameter. — FishBase |
| Appearance and size | Maximum length 37.0 cm sl male/unsexed. — FishBase |
| Biology | Facultative air-breathing; Found in slow flowing rivers and standing waters. Apparently restricted to reedy habitats. It moves snake-wise over the bottom, but it can also side-wind quite rapidly through the water. — FishBase |
| Conservation | Erpetoichthys calabaricus is not endangered, although it is limited to a fairly small number of rivers. — Animal Diversity Web |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Maximum recorded lifespan
Longest recorded lifespan reported by each database; typical lifespans are usually shorter.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as standard length (snout to the base of the tail, not counting the tail fin). Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 59 × 24 in (about 143 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Sean Evans: Tank Setup for Bichirs and Ropefish Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Seriously Fish: Erpetoichthys calabaricus Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Disorders and Diseases of Fish Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of Aquarium Fish Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.
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