Reed/rope Fish

[adam.s]

Hi I've recently bought 2 reed fish but I don't know much about them so any info would be appreciated I currently have them in a 2 1/2 foot tank with 10 barbs and 2 butterfly fish I know I got to upgrade the size of my tank but don't know how big to go could I get away with a 3 foot tank ? I was told that the reed fish can get up to 3 foot in the wild and only 1foot in a tank

 

[josh_g]

I've kept both fish and the only advise I can give is make sure there's no gaps in the hood anywhere. I found both my reedfish and butterfly dried up under the tank

 

[aether.ed]

I spose it could be done in a 3footer but I'd go 4ft to give em space to stretch out as they do get quite large, one of mine was very nearly 2ft. And yes take the advise given, no gaps in the hood whatsoever! I came home to my 2 all dried up on the floor. I have no gaps, they pushed the condensation trays up and got out. Oh and feed em meaty stuff, bloodworm, krill, chopped prawn etc.

Strangely beautiful fish those ropes. They're tough as nails, they can survive horrible conditions. Love to get some more at some point.

 

[aquariumart22]

I love rope fish! I have one in a 4 foot tank and he may be my favorite fish. I understand they are different in terms of behavior and aggression. Mine is in with a shoal of rummynoses and a shoal of harlequins and some would advise against that, but mine may be the most docile and timid fish I have. Mine is very social, anytime I'm in the tank doing maintenance the next thing I know hes in my hand! Anyways, bloodworm is the favorite for mine I give bloodworms every other day.

I would say go for at least a four footer, they really do enjoy swimming the length and look beautiful at that.

I also have a sand substrate, and he tends to like slithering and sifting around in it.

 

[phantomlink]

I love rope fish! I have one in a 4 foot tank and he may be my favorite fish. I understand they are different in terms of behavior and aggression. Mine is in with a shoal of rummynoses and a shoal of harlequins and some would advise against that, but mine may be the most docile and timid fish I have. Mine is very social, anytime I'm in the tank doing maintenance the next thing I know hes in my hand! Anyways, bloodworm is the favorite for mine I give bloodworms every other day.

I would say go for at least a four footer, they really do enjoy swimming the length and look beautiful at that.

I also have a sand substrate, and he tends to like slithering and sifting around in it.

Are these fish one of those "only have this type of fish in a tank"? I have a 6 foot tank and saw one of these at my LFS and if I could somehow pull it off with a bunch of tetras, corydoras, and kuhli loaches I'd love to have one in my tank

 

[thereverendturtle]

Typically a good community fish, naturally they feed on worms, shrimp and other little critters. They may on occasion take a small fish, so I'd recommend keeping them with deeper bodied fish, like bleeding hearts, Congo tetras, dwarf cichlids or larger non aggressive cichlids, barbs are also a good choice. They also seem to like to be in groups, so 3+ would be good, if you have the room.

 

[aquariumart22]

I only bought one before I really knew anything about them. I've read if you keep one for a while it may not take kindly if you try to introduce more so I just stuck with my one, I'd feel better if I would have gotten a few and introduced them at the same time.

Honestly phantomlink, I would say try it. If they/it starts causing problems then just rehome them. I have a nice high piece of wood in my tank and he loves hanging out on it. Try to give some height so they can get away if they want to. Mine really likes to be towards the top of the tank sometimes.

I also have 7 kuhli loaches and a cory in there with him. I've seen him hanging out with the cory and he and the loaches lay together on top of each other sometimes like their family. So it could work, but theres a chance it may not so I'd make sure you have somewhere that would take them if they don't work out. Try to keep them well fed, make sure their getting their fill and all the other fish don't gobble up all the bloodworm before they get a chance. Mines not too assertive he'll sit back until everyone else is done then pick up whats left, I try to put flake on one side then put the bloodworm on the other but as soon as everyone sees the bloodworm they come swimmin! If I don't feel like he got enough I add more. He also picks at shrimp pellets on occasion.

 

[phantomlink]

Thanks for the info, they're a little more expensive then I was looking for in stocking all my schooling fish and I think my LFS only has one in their display tank. I read that Kuhli loachs dont really contribute much to the tanks bioload due to their small size/length so you can add them without worrying about overstocking. I dont want this tank to be cramped but darn it looked sweet swimming around that tank. I plan on making a PVC pipe network around my tank for the loaches but I guess I'll do some more research on the fish. Closest thing to an eel I can find around here

 

[Lawrencejohn]

I've kept both fish and the only advise I can give is make sure there's no gaps in the hood anywhere. I found both my reedfish and butterfly dried up under the tank

Same here.

 

[adam.s]

i cant have a 4 foot tank i think im pushing it at 3 foot because its going in a upstairs bedroom and i already have a 60 litre tank and the 3 foot tank will replace my 2 1/2 foot tank the 3 foot tank is going to be taller aswell so i dont want the extra weight in a bedroom just incase it goes through the floor ill just have to do more water changes and use 2 canister filters also if i sell the barbs the pet shop owner said i could have 2 fire eels with 2 reed fish in the 3 foot tank so does anyone know anything about fire eels ?

 

[aquariumart22]

i cant have a 4 foot tank i think im pushing it at 3 foot because its going in a upstairs bedroom and i already have a 60 litre tank and the 3 foot tank will replace my 2 1/2 foot tank the 3 foot tank is going to be taller aswell so i dont want the extra weight in a bedroom just incase it goes through the floor ill just have to do more water changes and use 2 canister filters also if i sell the barbs the pet shop owner said i could have 2 fire eels with 2 reed fish in the 3 foot tank so does anyone know anything about fire eels ?

I would not be too quick to take advice from shop owners. Adult fire eels can get over 2 feet as well as the rope fish. Most would advise 120 gallon plus for adult fire eels. I would say do a lot of research after receiving advice from the LFS to prove or disprove, to promote the welfare of the fish.

Unless you have an older house, most can hold the weight. Think of a full bath tub with a person in it and how much that weighs, or a couch with 3-4 people on it. Your decision though, I think most will advise against that stocking in that small of a tank.

 

[thereverendturtle]

i cant have a 4 foot tank i think im pushing it at 3 foot because its going in a upstairs bedroom and i already have a 60 litre tank and the 3 foot tank will replace my 2 1/2 foot tank the 3 foot tank is going to be taller aswell so i dont want the extra weight in a bedroom just incase it goes through the floor ill just have to do more water changes and use 2 canister filters also if i sell the barbs the pet shop owner said i could have 2 fire eels with 2 reed fish in the 3 foot tank so does anyone know anything about fire eels ?

Fire eels get huge, definitely would need a 6' tank to keep them happily. I would say three ropefish and a school of tetras would be ok. Or if you like the oddballs, a group of African butterfly fish, 3-4, would work and come from the same area as the ropes. Some will tell you the tank isn't long enough for that many abf's, but I had a display once with 4 in it. It was 36x12x16 and they got along just fine, never saw any aggression towards one another.

 

[Wills]

Yeah fire eels are big fish...

http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrfOmfQwhG8&feature=related

Wills

 

[adam.s]

How long would it take for a fire eel to get to 2foot if it is only 10 cm now because if its a few years it gives me plenty of time to get a 6 foot tank and make space for it down stairs

 

[Wills]

People usually say expect 12-18 inches in the first year and then 7-8 inches each year after that.

BUT!! although you think you have 2 years to plan for a tank.... you actually have 2 years for you to need the money saved. Sad fact is life happens and gets in the way, say your car breaks down, a pipe bursts, your dog needs vets bills, you loose some income etc etc loads of stuff can happen between now and the dream tank and then it gets pushed back and back meanwhile the fish gets bigger and bigger.... trust me it happens. I had a 65g and swore I would upgrade to a 6x2x2 in a few months then my flat needed major remodeling due to water damage from upstairs - so massive upheaval had to move out for 6 months then get back get settled and in the process I had to rehome some fish and then some months later I got a 6x18inchx2....

Tank first, fish second.

Wills