Ropefish behavior

[BuffaloPolypteridae]

I've had my rope for about 8 months, got him at about 12 inch and I think he's more like 14 to 16 now. He used to be quite active, swimming about with my red wolf and chilling near the top. Lately he seems sluggish, jus lays on the bottom with the bichirs. Acting an awful lot like a lazy bichir haha.

How old do you guys think this size rope is? I have no idea about growth rate other then from mine and my friends 5 incher got to 8 inches at the same time we bought them together from the same tank. Maybe its just old age? Or he prefers to chill with the bichirs now?

Only changes I've made since then is adding a green Texas cichlid, which always hangs out on the opposite side of the tank. I've seen them swim last each other without issue so I don't think its that. My filtration has gotten better since I got it, along with the addition of a huge pothos bush. So water quality isn't an issue. He also eats well, though has never excepted pellet unless forced to eat it since its mixed into the blackworms on the bottom. He gets all sorts of worms, blood black earth red and once in a while I'll stuff worms with pellet so I know he's getting the nutrients

Any ideas?



This guy
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[-DC-]

I would not worry it sounds normal to me. Mine have always been like that they will go through a very active phase, all over, swimming around and exploring the tank begging for food etc, then on day they disapear under a rock you dont see them for weeks on end. Then just as you have given up and assume it escaped they reappear and are out swimming around again back to begging for food. I spotted mine last night for the first time in probably 4 weeks, I had started to think he had escaped and become a cat treat.

 

[mikehagan]

They like to be with others of their own kind. Maybe he's lonely.

 

[BuffaloPolypteridae]

I always wanted to add at least one more rope but never found one big enough. He's the biggest rope I've ever seen locally by a solid 6 inch

I hope he's okay and just being lazy and chilling with the bichir since they look like him haha

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[Dr.B]

What kind of filtration did you add? I know that with mine and my polys you can all see them go towards a side of the tank with less flow, so maybe he's just not as active at the top because of increased flow. I wouldn't really worry too much especially with the ropefish I would rather have a ropefish at the bottom of the tank than at the top. They're less a risk to jump and look more natural swimming on the bottom than floating and swimming on the top. Like polys I'd think you can't get a correct date on their age only educated guesses so anything is better than nothing so I'd guess 6 years maybe haha.

 

[BuffaloPolypteridae]

Added an eheim 2217, I have it at about half flow though so its not particularly strong. Also switched my Ac70 for a 30 as to not create too much current.

That is a good point about him jumping out dr, I was always afraid hed slither up my pothos and I'd just look over to see him making his way out of the tank haha I for sure plan to take this guys age-bone (can't recall the proper name) to get his true age once he passes.

On a side note my teugs are crazy active right now, they always get like this around midnight its awesome haha

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