[simonas]

I've been looking on here using search button about Reedfish. I haven't actually seen one in any LFS'S but I may try and get one cos they look and sound great fish to keep .

Apart from tank size and tank mates are there any great demands these fish have. I already keep a fire eel and Polypterus Ornatipinis very well and wonder if the reedfish requires any more attention than these two. Plus does anyone have one they are selling?

[shroob]

I've heard they do best in groups, so that might be something to think about.

[simonas]

I bet they'd look ace though!! Just need to find some

[nmonks]

Compared to bichirs, ropefish are easier in some ways, but more difficult in others. On the plus side they are less predatory and much less territorial. They are more adaptable in terms of food, and feed primarily on things like bloodworms and mosquito larvae in the wild as well as in the aquaria. On the other hand they are definitely social animals. Keep at least three. They are also unbelievably good escape artists. While bichirs will jump out of tanks, ropefish will also slither through cracks and pipes, even into filters. So be careful housing them.

If you can find a book called "Jurassic Fishes", that's perhaps your best reference book. It's a must-have for bichir enthusiasts. Sadly not in print anymore, but available (at a price!) secondhand.

Cheers, Neale

[Davo86]

I have a pair that live in the black juwel filter in my tank (i decided to remove the filter due to them moving in)

Now they come out at feeding times, then swim back through the hole intended for the powerhead and curl up together until the next meal

[Lupinenightwanderer]

I recieved two reedfish Thursday by mail order. One was lethargic from the start and was deceased when I came in from work this morning. The other hides so well I don't even know where his hiding hole is, but he comes out after lights-out and swims around for a few minutes before retreating again. I had stocked their tank with tiny young guppies and ghost shrimp as this is what I've read they like to eat. Neither fish had/has fed yet. nmonks states they like bloodworms and mosquito larvae. My remaining ropefish is about 12" and may be wild caught, so I'm aware it may not live thru the stress and whatever diseases it may have(no external signs of either tho). I shall try to feed bloodworms tonight when it comes out. Any other ideas or advice on how to encourage eating? I really don't want to lose this one. BTW the NH3=0, hardness is 120ppm tho. I've kept successful reef/saltwater tanks for years so I'm not really aware of what physiological effects water hardness has on freshwater fish. Could this be interfering with feeding?
Also, I have an african butterfly in the main tank who is a voracious eater, tho of course sticks to the top of the water column. Anyone have reason to think he may bully the reedfish over worms? Of course he may devour them first, but should I maybe not put the reedfish in his tank as I planned(providing it starts eating and lives)?
Thanks for any help.

[nmonks]

Feeding these nocturnal carnivores is remarkably consistent.

Firstly, make sure they don't have to compete for food. Mixing reedfish with loaches and catfish will make your job difficult, because those fish steal the food. This varies of course. A whiptail catfish for example won't be as bad as, say, a clown loach. But unless you know better, don't add loaches and catfish to a reedfish tank until you know your reedfish is tame and feeding properly.

Secondly, don't add too much food at once. A common mistake people make is to dump a lot of food in the tank. These fish hunt by smell; if the smell is everywhere, they can't find anything! A couple of fingernail-sized morsels per night is ample. Put them in the same place in the tank each night. As well as insect larvae, small bits of prawn or mussel work very well too. Your reedfish will find the food and eventually learn where to forage.

Water chemistry doesn't matter. Reedfish are found in everything from swamps to brackish water deltas.

The butterfly fish isn't an issue, and actually these fish would make a good combination. Neither will be aware of the other's existence.

Cheers, Neale

[simonas]

My fire eel did that in my Jeweltank before I moved him and used to lie in all the filter material.
I'll look at ebay for the book
Lupinightwanderer... where di you get your fish from and I'll ask in a week whether you recommend them? lol

[Straydum]

i believe you could contact your lfs or go down to the fish farm directly, if its not far far far away. telling your lfs what fish you want may get you a better chance in getting them. in some shops you may have to pay a small fee though

[simonas]

yay finally got two today.

Out of chance a LFS had them and is going to get me a couple more so I can have a little group.

They're about 6 inches long and look stunning. Hopefully they'll feed and settle in well cos I want these to do really well

How bad are these fish at escaping out of tanks as I once had my pride and joy fire eel do that and I was devesated

[Esfa]

If there is a hole, they will find it.

Make sure there are absolutely NO holes.

If there are hols around the hood where the wires come out, squeeze a sponge in there! Fills the hole completely.

[Straydum]

yeah just make sure even an escape artist wouldnt be able to work his magic in there. i dont know much about reedfishes jumping but you could try having a lid just to be safe

[simonas]

these fish are ace. Very active and I ws made up to see them olfig food down last night. It was just live bloodworm but encouraging to see them feed. I can't wait to see them grow into full size fish... escapism permitting of course!!

[simonas]

nooooooo!!!

Gutted

Looked for them this morning and there was o sign of them and my fears were realised when they were on the floor at the back. I had filled holes with filter sponges yet they had still sneaked through a tiny gap. I'm absolutely gutted as these have been been the best fish I have ever kept even thoug only for 4 days!!!

[Esfa]

Awwww. RIP.

They really are a lovely fish, just too curious for their own good.

[simonas]

I've ordered some more and they'll go straight in the tank I intended them to go in which has heavy glass covers... Why I didn't put them stright in there I don't know but you live and learn I guess

[simonas]

I just got three more. They are slightly bigger and thicker. They are in a different tank than the last with a tight lid that I have sorted out. Fingers crossed these will stay in

[Esfa]

Good luck.

[nmonks]

Keep them in a half-filled tank. This will make your life a lot easier. They escaping by swimming up to the top and then wiggling into crevices, and once their, pulling themselves along. In the wild they apparently cross wet grass and mud going from pond to pond. So if you lower the water to 50% the height of the tank, assuming the tank is reasonably deep, they can't get enough grip to get into the cracks at the top of the tank.

At university, that's how we kept eels (Anguilla spp.) which are just the worst fish for keeping in an aquarium. It's also standard practise for things like swamp eels, which are also great escape artists.

You can also use fine plastic mesh to build a "clip-on" lid to go over the tank. Make it big enough to cover the top of the tank, plus a couple of inches to make a fringe that you can fold down all four sides of the tank. Tack the four bits of the fringe together so that you make what is in effect a sort of box that clips over the tank. Green stiff plastic mesh can be purchased at garden centres very cheaply (used for ponds and things, a couple of pounds per square meter) and all you need to do is cut with scissors and use something like unwound paperclips to tie together the 'fringe' pieces.

This approach will let you fill the tank closer to the top, because the fish can't escape. You'll need to only use things like filters and heaters that go inside the tank, since at best you can wind air pipes and power cables through the mesh (maybe taking the plugs off to do so). As soon as you cut spaces for water pipes (i.e., for canister filters) you make holes the fish can escape from.

Cheers, Neale

[simonas]

Esfa, on Nov 22 2007, 08:37 PM, said:

Good luck.

cheers i've just been watching them swimming all over the place rooting into crevices but they just took some prawn I gave to my Bichir

these fish are mad they settle and feed straight away

nmonks, on Nov 22 2007, 08:54 PM, said:

Keep them in a half-filled tank. This will make your life a lot easier. They escaping by swimming up to the top and then wiggling into crevices, and once their, pulling themselves along. In the wild they apparently cross wet grass and mud going from pond to pond. So if you lower the water to 50% the height of the tank, assuming the tank is reasonably deep, they can't get enough grip to get into the cracks at the top of the tank.
.
Cheers, Neale

Cheers Neale

Funny enough I'd just done that . Lowered the level about 4 inches. Its an 24 inch high tank so I can prob go a bit lower