i need info on ropefish

[ash9494boo]

i want to get a ropefish but have no idea how to take care of them! i need HELP

[shade2dope]

Well the the first thing you will need is a large enough tank like maybe 75-125g.They get about 20 inchs.The other thing is do you want to just keep just a rope fish in a 75g tank as I have seen them eat smaller fish.I have also heard that it can be hard to feed them as the somtimes will only take live food.I have seen these sold at walmart to people planning on putting them in a 10g with there cichlids.When I asked the guy what kind he said not sure the ones from the cichlid tank here.Glad you came here first

[flamingo]

A 55 gallon should be fine, but bigger is always better.
They do get pretty long, but not that thick around- just provide a tank with enough swimming space when they go crazy

They will somewhat school with eachother- so of course they can be kept together, but they do just fine by themselves.

And Shade's right, they can be tricky with feeding. Try freeze-dried krill to begin with, silversides etc. If they don't take to them, then try instilling a starvation period- they're not that great with this compared to most preds, so having small feeders on hand helps. I've seen some go straight after market shrimp, and some not eat little for months before going after only feeders. Like bichirs, they tend to eat more than they can handle- which really, isn't much compared to a senegal. Usually, they do a "death roll" to tear off chunks

Word of advice though- NEVER buy them from a place like Walmart.
They're highly susceptible to a septicemia like disease. The body bruises, bleeds, etc. and the skin slimes peels after- followed by bloating with gases and floating at the top. There's no way to really treat it...
Buy from a reputable dealer at the least.

[shade2dope]

o and they like to climp out of tanks too.Any liltle spot if they can get out they do.

[Gourami Swami]

^ yep, your tank needs to be pretty much sealed, these guys are escape artists.

I think a 75 would be better but 55 is doable, and your going to want to lower the waterline about 4"

[TheOldSalt]

They'll also get into your filters or under your gravel if they can find any way to do it. make sure they have a home of their own.
Most of them will eat earthworms, too, but a steady diet of those is a very bad thing.

[pullins125]

jumping is a major prob. i have one in a 150 gallon and he hides alot but is coming out more. i have never feed mine anything live or frozen bc my tinfoils eat them b4 he could. i do put in pellets and some vegetable crisp and he eats them when they get to da bottom. but just bc mine eats that dont mean you're will. some our more picky then others. i just got a good one i guess. lol

[mistynou]

there on of my favorite fish.those advise about not bying rope fish in walmart is whrith(damn i dont know how to write this word)anyway NEVER NEVER bye fish from walmart.that goes for anyfish as they never have any staff that have knowledge in fish keeping.not only can that fish hav deseases but would maybe contaminate yours.even some petshop you have to be carfull with.hell i saw one time in a petshop neons kept with green puffers.i ask the employe what the hell they were doing and i know they dont like to be question on there way of working but when it comes to fish im not shy.further more iv worked in the pet shop industry for 20 years and learned from the best.sufice it to say that she was ticked off at me.anyway later the puffer killed every neon d'huh.as for my rope fish i always feed them live food.as i like snake i realy love these fishs.