Reed Fish, Rope Fish?

[evilchild]

just moved my fish into my 120lt tank over the weekend after it has been sitting empty for months. i did lose a few of my neon's in the move, but i think this was stress related? any who, i went to another lfs one i never been before and they had a massive range of fish, so me and my girlfriend got some new fish:
4 green tiger barbs
5 harlaquins
and reed fish?

I know i should have done some research before i got this weird and wonderful fish but it look so cool and i got it . (£11.50 it cost me to but never mind). I've had it 24 hours and had a nightmere with it already . lol. put it in the tank every thing was fine, i went out for a short while, came back and it was gone ? after looking for a little while i found him, on the floor?

so taped up the tank at the back so he shouldn't be able to get out. (finger crossed). then i lost him again, found him once more in the filter? that took me a while to get him out!

so any way that was my eventfull weekend with the reed fish. sorry i'll get to the point now, can any one surgest any other foods other than blood worm to feed him? or any other tips on keeping it happy and safe. (and in the tannk).

many thanks, even if you guys can't help i hope it put a smile on your face?

P.S i have called him Harry (Houdini) lol

 

[shroob]

I dont think the rope fish will be suitable for your tank, 120 litres just isnt enough for it, they can get to 12" (and much more in right conditions). They also like to be in groups having one isnt recommended. You may also find your neons and other smaller fish becomming lunch as he gets bigger.

If I were you, I would retrun it to the shop.

 

[evilchild]

thanks for the heads up, i think that is a lesson in buying fish from other fish shops? stick to one and build repor with them. i knew i should had go the koolies. lol.

 

[Snooks1!]

thanks for the heads up, i think that is a lesson in buying fish from other fish shops? stick to one and build repor with them. i knew i should had go the koolies. lol.

Rope fish are cool, but they are notorious at escaping... When we had ours we kept him in a 20 gal tank with some guppies and shrimp. They're fascinating fish if you have the proper means to house and care for them.

 

[kamber]

thanks for the heads up, i think that is a lesson in buying fish from other fish shops? stick to one and build repor with them. i knew i should had go the koolies. lol.

Rope fish are cool, but they are notorious at escaping... When we had ours we kept him in a 20 gal tank with some guppies and shrimp. They're fascinating fish if you have the proper means to house and care for them.

I've got 4 of them they are awesome, really friendly fish and great entertainment value. Mine absolutely love bloodworm, but they also love bits of frozen prawn, they seem to go for the biggest bits and try to swallow them whole, very entertaining to watch; as you can see the bit of prawn in there bellies when they swim round!
They do like there own kind as well, mine are usually next to or on top of one another, bits of plastic pipe (plumbing pipe) sunk into the substrate and flat blog wood are a good home for these guys. They do get 12" long but unlike a 12" traditional fish the popular opinion from what i've read is that they are "ok" in smaller tanks (due to there eel like bodies) than other fish that size, but i wouldn't recommend putting them in anything less than 3.5-4ft TBH.

 

[evilchild]

yeah fed him a bit of prawn last night, seemed to go down well. mine likes the filter? got in there again last night, little bugger, but got him self out again with out my help. which is good. is this something is should take care of or will he be ok in there?

 

[kamber]

yeah fed him a bit of prawn last night, seemed to go down well. mine likes the filter? got in there again last night, little bugger, but got him self out again with out my help. which is good. is this something is should take care of or will he be ok in there?

I've never had that problem, what kind of filter do you have? He should be ok as long as he can get out and doesn't get stuck in there. I've got filter guards on my externals and the internal is too small for them to fit in. I've heard of a lot of people that they do end up in filters a lot and also they love to jump out of the tank at the first opportunity.

After a crayfish went AWOL i made sure that all the tanks are fully sealed (i used bits of sponge or wool to plug any holes).

p.s if you get more than one of these they become a lot more active and friendly, single ones tend to try to find there way out more so it seems.

 

[simonas]

I got three of these geezers about a month ago. they look ace in my tank and are about 9 inches long. I was suprised by the easiness of keeping them happy.. they ate frozen bloodworm brine shrimp prawns and catfish pellets straight away and are always out and about. ace fish and the hang a lot in the floating plants however I had two reedfish the week before these which escaped so you were lucky to save yours and yes they are the best escapers ever. I lowered my water level by 3 inches

Good luck and enjoy

 

[evilchild]

i suppose the only thing with these guys is, if you lose a fish (as in dead) you want know if he'd eaten it when it was live or dead. either way he will get the blame. lol. he is good fun to watch, fed him a hole praw last night. it took it so fast i was 'whoo' i think it was a little big for him had a bit of truble eatting it so i had to make it smaller. going to get some worms today, that should be fun to watch.