Reed Fish 25-30cm


Price:
Sale price£24.95
Stock:
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Click & Collect currently unavailable at Tropical Supplies

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:

  • Eel-Like Body: Long and slender, resembling an eel or snake, making it a captivating sight as it swims through the tank

  • Unique Movement: Moves with a graceful, serpentine undulating motion, often seen slinking through plants and décor

  • Coloration: A muted olive-green body with darker markings along the back and fins

  • Peaceful Temperament: Non-aggressive and enjoys the company of other peaceful species in community tanks

  • Size: Grows up to 30–40 cm (12–16 inches), so a larger tank is ideal for this species

Tank Requirements:

  • Minimum tank size: 150 liters (40 gallons) for a single fish

  • Temperature: 24°C–28°C (75°F–82°F)

  • pH: 6.5–7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

  • Prefers a well-planted tank with plenty of hiding spots, as it enjoys the cover of plants, driftwood, and rocks

  • Substrate should be soft (sand or fine gravel), as Reed Fish are gentle and may be harmed by sharp substrate

  • Requires moderate water flow, as it prefers slow-moving waters in the wild

Compatibility:

  • Peaceful and Social: Best kept with other non-aggressive fish

  • Ideal tankmates include peaceful species like tetras, rasboras, and livebearers

  • Avoid keeping with overly aggressive fish that might stress or harass the Reed Fish

  • 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:

  • Carnivorous—feeds primarily on live or frozen foods

  • Enjoys a diet of worms, small crustaceans, and occasional fish

  • Will also accept high-quality frozen foods like bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia

  • Feed 2–3 times a day, offering small portions that can be consumed within a few minutes

  • 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

Place your order online and select “Click & Collect” at checkout.
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.

  • Minimum spend: £50

  • Delivery up to 10 miles: £10

  • 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

  • DPD Next Day: 1 working day (order before 12 noon)

  • DX Next Day (Heavy Items & Small Aquariums): 1 working day (order before 12 noon)

  • 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

If an item says “Pre-Order,” it’ll be sent out as soon as it arrives with us.
Want the full details? Check out our Terms & Conditions.

Livestock Delivery


Thursday Delivery – £24

  • Dispatched Wednesday afternoon

  • Delivered Thursday before 1pm

  • Order by Wednesday 12 noon

  • Minimum spend: £50

Friday Delivery – £24

  • Dispatched Thursday afternoon

  • Delivered Friday before 1pm

  • Order by Thursday 12 noon

  • Minimum spend: £50

Saturday Delivery – £29

  • Dispatched Friday afternoon

  • Delivered Saturday before 1pm

  • Order by Friday 12 noon

  • 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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