My rope escaped!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Erpetoichthys calabaricus (Rope or Reed Fish) are notorious escape artists so it isn't a surprise that yours took an extra-tank excursion. I would venture to say that the most common cause of death in captive Rope Fish is dessication on the floor.

These are truly fascinating fish but , like their Polypterus cousins, they'll often take advantage of any opening you leave for them. Experienced Polypterid keepers know to make sure that their tanks are as secure as humanly possible and even then they occasionally experience losses. Just a couple of night ago I woke up in the middle of the night to a loud crash as my 16" Polypterus endlicheri endlicheri finally managed to push the heavily-weighted aquarium cover free and apparently decided to go for a little stroll. Fortunately I was able to get him right back into the tank and no damage seems to have been done by his drop from the tank to the carpeted floor.

I am certainly sorry to hear that your E. calabaricus didn't make it but don't let that put you off keeping this fish in the future. Chalk it up as a lesson learned and make sure that your tank is as escape-proof as you can make it before putting another Rope Fish in it.

-Joe
 
I had it relatively escape proof, but i guess it wasn't good enough.

I'm not making the guy escaping be the reason i'm not getting another rope, its just he wasn't very active, and i think i'd rather just grow something else out in the tank.
 
i had the same thing happen to me with my prized senegel bichir and two ropes at the same time during moving, i still miss those guys.
 
I love my two ropes. Last night after turning the lights out I caught both of them (10 & 12 inches) lounging in the neck of a beer bottle I have set in the back of the tank for feeding purposes. My smaller one loves to chill in the bottle all day.

The bigger one has found a place within my rocks to relax. I caught the big one "sleeping" in the bottle. He was motionless, didn't even see him breathing and I thought he was dead. Had to move the bottle to get him to move.

Neither one has escaped yet, although they have jumped out of the net when I moved them from my 30 gal to my 125. They feel awesome.
 
welp, went in and got 2 dozen feeders, and i was going to get a raphael cat, but i just saved a 4 line pictus from a 10 gallon tank, so i figured i couldn't put anymore fish in my 29 as its pretty overstocked. I'm pretty sure the 4 line is stunted as it had been in the 10 for a while and they almost never did water changes, but he is doing pretty good now in the 29, and he is coloring up a lot more then what i saw him in that tank.
 
Thanks for the advice. I think anyone here who's keeping bichirs and ropefish knows that they are escape artist. Sorry for the lost man.

Yeah, ropefish are cool fish
 
id expect him to grow some be prepared for it to get at least 8''
 
the fourline? ya i hope he does grow, and he'll get a new home in ATLEAST a 55 gallon tank. I just need to find a good deal on one and it'll be here.
 
Like you and many others X24 lost my rope the same tragic way. Had the pleasure of having it for bout 8months before it took its midnight stroll. Don't write them off their totally cool fish. Mine was very active and the best part was him and my seg were best of buds. Also very tame mine would come to the top of tank at feeding time and take mealworms straight from my hand... Anyhow if you got your tank sealed up and got another rope. Don't think you would regret it... that all said thought I'd include a couple pics of my old rope... R.I.P Slim

tribute.jpg

duo.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom