African Rope Fish

The reed fish, also called the rope fish, are in the African bichir family but truly look and behave like benign eels. These gentle, long fish have lungs that enable them to tolerate all kinds of water conditions and they can live in brackish or salt water. Good luck breeding them; the males and females are identical and no one has ever done it. Reedfish move more at night and will not harm anything that can't fit in their very small mouths.

Quick Facts

Care Guide

Tank setup: Bichirs are expert escape artists, so a tight-fitting lid is a must. Give them a soft bottom, caves and driftwood. They breathe air, so leave a gap above the water.

Feeding: Feed frozen foods like bloodworms and shrimp, plus sinking carnivore pellets once they learn to take them.

Tankmates: Ropefish are gentle but will eat very small fish. Keep them with peaceful fish too large to fit in their mouth.

Breathes air: Bichirs take gulps of air from the surface, which is normal behavior.

Good to know: Ropefish are expert escape artists and can slip through tiny gaps, so cover every opening in the lid.