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Others
/ Polypteridae / Reedfish
Reedfish, Snake fish, Rope Fish
Erpetoichthys calabaricus | Pictures
Synonyms: Calamichthys
calabaricus, Calamoichthys calabaricus, Hepetoichthys calabaricus
Physical description: An elongated, eel-like fish with 7-13 small, notched dorsal fins that are usually held
down against the back.
The Reedfish has no ventral fins and the pectoral fins are fan-shaped.
The overall body color is pale to golden
yellow to orange.
The back is dark olive green to brown.
Size/Length: To 36" (90 cm)
Similar species: None
Habitat: West Africa; marshy, vegetation-choked water in the Niger River delta and Niger River
of Cameroon and Nigeria.
S: bottom
Aquarium: A 40" (100 cm) or
45-55 gallon (170-209 L) tank is sufficient for fish measuring up to
12" (30 cm) in length.
Larger fish require more spacious tanks.
The Reedfish prefers a large, shallow tank having
a sand substrate, although this arrangement is not critical.
Provide hiding places with roots, rocks, wood,
and pipes.
Leave open swimming areas and plant the background and sides of the tank heavily with hardy, well-rooted
plants.
The substrate should be fine gravel or sand and the tank must be covered well.
Water chemistry:pH 6-7.5 (6.7), 6-18 dH (10), 73-86°F (23-30°C)
Social behavior: A peaceful, but carnivorous species that will consume swallow able tank mates.
This
species can be kept in numbers ranging from one to six fish, as it is not particularly territorial.
This
species can be combined with medium to large sized species that are not overly aggressive.
This species is most active at night.
Suggested companions: Steatocranus,
some
Tilapia species,
Hemichromis, Angelfish,
Synodontis
FOOD:
Live; fish, earthworms,
Tubifex , insects, frogs; chopped meat; occasionally
acclimated fish will accept tablets
Sexual differences: The male has more bars or rays (12-14) on the caudal fin than the female (9-12).
Breeding techniques: Not successful in captivity, although probably similar to
Polypterus species.
Breeding potential: 10. This species has yet to spawn in captivity.
REMARKS: The Reedfish periodically rises to the surface to breathe atmospheric air via
the swim bladder.
Like all Polypterides, the Reedfish has very poor vision and depends on smell to locate
food.
This species requires frequent partial water changes to prosper.
Difficulty of care: 6.
After initial acclimation, when this species is susceptible to disease, the Reedfish becomes
hardier.
It requires well-maintained water and a diet of live foods.
Recent articles about fish
Overfishing may hurt Amazon forest trees
(2/5/2008) Overfishing is reducing the effectiveness of seed dispersal by fish in the Brazilian Pantanal, reports Nature. The research suggests that fishing practices can affect forest health.
Scientists find fish that literally lives in trees
(10/17/2007) Scientists have found a fish that literally lives in trees, according to research published in The American Naturalist and highlighted in New Scientist Magazine.
Piranhas originated when Amazon was flooded by seawater
(12/4/2007) South America's piranha family of fish -- notorious as eaters of flesh -- can be traced back to a single ancestor which dispersed when the Amazon was flooded by seawater some five million years ago, report researchers from the Institut de Recherche Pour le Developpement (IRD). Today piranhas are exclusively freshwater fish found from the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela to the Parana in Argentina.
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