I have had bichirs for awhile, now -- 2 delhezis, 3 senegals and now a rope. I purchased the rope a few months ago and he vanished within a week. I've only seen him once before and thought him for dead. Today, he is back. I have no idea how he's eating or anything. I guess he's eating late at night, after the lights are out. I assume he scours that tank floor for leftover morsels of food late at night. Any thoughts on rope fish eating habits? I know they're nocturnal, but I have not seen him in ages . . .
Rope Fish Vanishes and Re-appears.
- Thread starter phillydog1958
- Start date
Can't help you on the feeding habits, mine just roams around the tank until I put some live black worms in there and then he goes to town on them.
RedDwarf;4111084; said:
So, your rope is frequently out and about? It sounds like you see your rope daily. Mine hides all the time. I've had him for about 3 months and have only seen him twice. Today makes the third time that I've seen him. I have many great hiding places for my fish and he's taking full advantage of them.
It all depends on if they (bichirs) find that one hole that they can snake their bodies into. My ornate was in a tank with a plastic tree root that had an opening at the top and all the root legs were hollow, well I never saw it, I knew it was in there because I got worried and went looking for him. A couple of months ago I moved all my growouts together in a 125 and decided to put the ornate in there, no more plastic root, no more hole, but plenty of cracks and crevices for it to hide in, but now it swims around or basks out in the open all the time.
I guess my point is, look for a long thin hole and thats where your ropefish is hiding.
I guess my point is, look for a long thin hole and thats where your ropefish is hiding.
uncwnells;4111100; said:
Yea, I know exactly what you're referring to. I have that same plastic, mangrove, tree root in my 75 gallon and my tire track manages to hide inside of the hollowed-out portion of it. He's hiding in a part of it that the manufacturer did not design the tree root for. If they find a smallest hole, it's their new home.
I've noticed that my rope, when seen, is usually half or partially out. Usually, most of his body is hidden under a pile of rocks. Right now, I can only see 3 inches of his 12-inch body. So, you're correct, maybe I should place him in a tank with less places to conceal himself.
I was just concerned about his eating habits and his survival, but I guess he's managing to eat, some how.
I think my rope fish is out and about more because he's actively searching for food. Sounds like yours has no problem find food so it's content to stay hidden most of the time. Mine has to compete with 20+ bichirs so that might be the reason he comes out more often.
I had my first one was gone for days and i thought he jumped out. Come to find out he was up inside a fake rock decoration, he got up inside a hollow spot that was made for water to fill up so it doesn't float. Then a couple weeks ago the one i have now was found curled up inside the intake piece of my emperor 400 that had fallen off into the tank.
D12DetroitD12;4111414; said:
Yep, I hear ya. I wish I could get mine to become more social and not hide so much.
my friends rope sometimes hides in his driftwood all good for a couple of days, he just chills in there. when he feels like it, he swims alot and is very active. he comes out sometimes for food and he eats shrimp and pellets. rope fish get a piece of food and it last them a couple of days they dont really munch out too much. the rope might also be on a hunger strike if he is new to the tank. keep doing what your doing, its great just watch out your rope can jump out through small holes or if you have big fish they might try to slurp him up like a noodle.