African Reed Fish Rope Fish Erpetoichthys Calabaricus 30cm
Image for illustration purposes only. Exact colours, patterns, and size may vary between individuals.
Delivered alive, guaranteed
Live fish delivery is £20 per order, delivered Thursday, Friday or Saturday, arriving before 1:00pm on the day you choose at checkout. Packed by aquatic specialists and shipped overnight with a dedicated livestock courier, every fish is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee with automatic refunds. See How Live Fish Delivery Works for full details.
When will my fish arrive?
| Order placed | Delivery day |
|---|---|
| Up to Monday 11:00am | Thursday (that week) |
| Monday after 11:00am – Tuesday 11:00am | Friday (that week) |
| Tuesday after 11:00am – Wednesday 11:00am | Saturday (that week) |
| Wednesday after 11:00am – Sunday (any time) | Thursday (following week) |
Overview
The Ropefish, or Reedfish, is an ancient, snake-like bichir relative with a slender olive body, tiny pectoral fins and a row of little dorsal finlets. It breathes air at the surface and hunts by scent at night. Native to West Africa, it is peaceful and oddly charming, suiting keepers with a large, securely covered tank.
- Adult Size: Around 40 cm (16 in) in aquaria; larger in the wild
- Lifespan: 15–20 years
Origin
- Native to: Nigeria, Cameroon, Benin and Congo, West Africa
- Habitat: Shallow, heavily vegetated, slow-moving waters
Feeding
- Diet: Carnivorous
- Preferred Foods: Prawns, earthworms, mussel, bloodworm, lancefish, sinking carnivore pellets
- Feeding Habits: Feed after lights out; ensure food reaches the bottom
Tank Mates
- Best with: Synodontis, larger characins, Congo Tetras, peaceful medium cichlids
- Avoid: Fish small enough to swallow; boisterous or aggressive tank mates
Aggression & Behaviour
- Temperament: Peaceful and sociable; happily kept in groups
- Territoriality: None; shares caves and hides readily
Experience Level
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Challenges: Escape artist; slow to compete for food
Water Parameters
- Water Type: Freshwater, soft to moderately hard
- Temperature: 23–28°C (73–82°F)
- pH: 6.0–7.5
- Hardness: 5–20 dGH
- Flow: Slow to moderate
- Tank Size: Minimum 450 litres for adults; a long tank with floor space
Final Notes
Ropefish will find any gap in a lid, so cover every hole around filters and cables; they can also drown if denied access to surface air. They are nocturnal and rely on smell, so target-feed after dark and watch that faster fish do not take everything. Provide sand, plants and pipework to hide in, and keep two or more as they enjoy company. Males have more dorsal finlets than females. Breeding is unrecorded in aquaria.
Please Note
The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Birchwood Aquatic Centre shop. Species sold at the Birchwood Aquatic Centre physical store may differ from ones available to order to your door.
Frequently Asked Questions
In insulated boxes designed for live transport, packed by aquatic specialists,
overnight with a licensed live-animal courier, arriving before 1pm.
It is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
Photograph it within 4 hours of delivery, email info@birchwoodaquaticcentre.co.uk with your order number, and the refund is processed automatically. The cover continues for 7 days after arrival.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You pick your day at checkout; please choose a day someone is home.
Yes. One basket, one checkout; the fish arrive with the specialist courier and the rest of your order ships as normal.
We can deliver to UK mainland only for live fish.
Follow the five-minute acclimatisation steps in our When Your Fish Arrive guide: float the bags, add tank water gradually, net the fish in, lights low, feed tomorrow.