Reedfish

About

Reedfish (Erpetoichthys calabaricus), also widely called ropefish or snakefish, are one of those species that genuinely make you stop and think about deep time. This is the sole member of its genus, a close relative of the bichirs, and part of a lineage with fossil ancestors stretching back over 200 million years. In the aquarium it looks the part: a long, sinuous body covered in hard, articulated scales, propelled through the water in smooth, serpentine waves. In the wild it occupies slow-moving rivers and coastal estuaries along a stretch of West and Central Africa, from Benin down to Cameroon, almost always in densely vegetated, reedy habitats. It is a facultative air-breather, using a modified swim bladder as an accessory lung. Deny it surface access and it can actually drown. Young fish even carry feathery external gills, giving them an uncanny resemblance to salamander larvae. In the aquarium, reedfish are nocturnal hunters that rely heavily on smell rather than sight to track down food. They are generally peaceful toward tankmates too large to swallow, and can be kept in groups with reasonable success, though they may become defensive if deprived of hiding spots. Larger cichlids, Synodontis catfish, and robust characins tend to make suitable companions. Their escape artistry is legendary. A tight-fitting lid is non-negotiable.