Description
Reed Fish – A Slender, Eel-Like Creature with Personality
(Erpetoichthys calabaricus)
The Reed Fish (Erpetoichthys calabaricus), also known as the Rope Fish or Snake Fish, is a fascinating and unique addition to any aquarium. Native to the slow-moving rivers and swamps of West and Central Africa, the Reed Fish is known for its long, slender, and eel-like body that allows it to easily navigate through thick aquatic vegetation. With its peaceful nature and distinctive appearance, this species is a popular choice for aquarists looking to add a truly unusual fish to their freshwater tank.
Key Features:
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Eel-Like Body: Long and slender, resembling an eel or snake, making it a captivating sight as it swims through the tank
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Unique Movement: Moves with a graceful, serpentine undulating motion, often seen slinking through plants and décor
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Coloration: A muted olive-green body with darker markings along the back and fins
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Peaceful Temperament: Non-aggressive and enjoys the company of other peaceful species in community tanks
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Size: Grows up to 30–40 cm (12–16 inches), so a larger tank is ideal for this species
Tank Requirements:
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Minimum tank size: 150 liters (40 gallons) for a single fish
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Temperature: 24°C–28°C (75°F–82°F)
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pH: 6.5–7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
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Prefers a well-planted tank with plenty of hiding spots, as it enjoys the cover of plants, driftwood, and rocks
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Substrate should be soft (sand or fine gravel), as Reed Fish are gentle and may be harmed by sharp substrate
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Requires moderate water flow, as it prefers slow-moving waters in the wild
Compatibility:
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Peaceful and Social: Best kept with other non-aggressive fish
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Ideal tankmates include peaceful species like tetras, rasboras, and livebearers
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Avoid keeping with overly aggressive fish that might stress or harass the Reed Fish
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Can be kept with other Reed Fish or other similarly-sized, peaceful species, but be sure there is enough space to reduce territorial disputes
Feeding Tips:
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Carnivorous—feeds primarily on live or frozen foods
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Enjoys a diet of worms, small crustaceans, and occasional fish
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Will also accept high-quality frozen foods like bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia
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Feed 2–3 times a day, offering small portions that can be consumed within a few minutes
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Although it is a predator, it may also accept sinking pellets and flakes designed for carnivorous species
Why Choose the Reed Fish?
The Reed Fish is a unique and fascinating addition to any aquarium. With its snake-like appearance, graceful swimming movements, and peaceful nature, it adds an exotic touch to your tank. Its ability to thrive in community aquariums with other peaceful species makes it a perfect choice for those looking to add an unusual and visually striking fish that will become the centerpiece of their setup.
Click & Collect
Livestock will only be bagged once you arrive, or if you contact us in advance to request it ready beforehand.
Local Delivery
Order anything from our in-store range and have it delivered right to you.
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Minimum spend: £50
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Delivery up to 10 miles: £10
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Delivery up to 25 miles: £20
Distances are measured “as the crow flies”, not by road.
Once your order is placed, we’ll be in touch to arrange a suitable delivery date and time.
Please note, delivery may take a little longer as we often group orders together to build an efficient delivery run.
Important: If you’re ordering a large aquarium, please ensure someone is available to help unload the van on arrival.
Dry Goods Delivery
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DPD Next Day: 1 working day (order before 12 noon)
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DX Next Day (Heavy Items & Small Aquariums): 1 working day (order before 12 noon)
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Express Pallet: 1–3 working days
If you'd like to add more items to an existing order that hasn't yet been dispatched, please place a Click & Collect order and leave a note asking us to combine the orders.
Please note: We currently only dispatch parcels Wednesday to Friday.
Pre-Order
Want the full details? Check out our Terms & Conditions.
Livestock Delivery
Thursday Delivery – £24
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Dispatched Wednesday afternoon
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Delivered Thursday before 1pm
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Order by Wednesday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
Friday Delivery – £24
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Dispatched Thursday afternoon
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Delivered Friday before 1pm
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Order by Thursday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
Saturday Delivery – £29
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Dispatched Friday afternoon
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Delivered Saturday before 1pm
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Order by Friday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
📦 Want to Add to an Existing Order?
No problem! Just place a Click & Collect order and leave a note asking us to link it with your original one (as long as it hasn’t been dispatched yet).
🛒 Dry Goods Now Included!
You can now include dry goods in your livestock delivery – perfect for topping up supplies in one go.
❄️ Please note: We can’t send frozen food with livestock – please order frozen items separately.
⚠️ Delivery Exclusions
Unfortunately, we’re unable to deliver livestock to the following postcodes:
Scotland & Isles:
AB30–AB56, DD8–DD10, DG3–DG9, DG12–DG14, FK17–FK21, KA18–KA19, KA26–KA30, PA20–PA38, PA80, PH3–PH40
Cornwall Isles: TR21–TR25
All of the following postcodes are excluded:
BT, HS, IM, IV, JE, KW
Plus Channel Islands and Shetland Islands
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