🐍 Ropefish Erpetoichthys calabaricus

The Ropefish (Erpetoichthys calabaricus) is a moderate-care, peaceful species from West Africa. Adults reach roughly 15", so plan on a minimum tank of 55 gallons. Keep the water between 72–82°F with a pH of 6–7.5. This is a schooling fish — keep a group of at least 3 so it feels secure and colors up. It is predatory and will eat fish small enough to fit in its mouth. As a carnivore, it does best on a varied diet appropriate to its feeding style.

At a glance

Good tankmates for Ropefish

Common PlecoGiant GouramiBlack Ghost KnifefishTinfoil BarbRed-Tail Tinfoil BarbRoyal Pleco (L190)

Avoid these tankmates

Neon TetraCardinal TetraRummynose TetraBlack Skirt TetraSerpae TetraGuppyEndler's LivebearerPlatyMollySwordtailBetta (male)AngelfishDiscusGerman Blue RamBolivian RamApistogrammaKribensisConvict CichlidZebra DanioHarlequin RasboraChili RasboraCherry BarbTiger BarbRosy BarbWhite Cloud MinnowDwarf GouramiPearl GouramiThree-Spot GouramiBronze CoryPanda CoryOtocinclusBristlenose PlecoKuhli LoachClown LoachPictus CatfishCherry ShrimpAmano ShrimpNerite SnailMystery SnailMarble HatchetfishEmber TetraBlack Neon TetraLemon TetraGlowlight TetraCongo TetraBloodfin TetraDiamond TetraBuenos Aires TetraEmperor TetraSilver Tip TetraX-Ray TetraGreen Neon TetraCelestial Pearl DanioLambchop RasboraScissortail RasboraPearl DanioGiant DanioGlowlight DanioGold BarbOdessa BarbDenison BarbCheckerboard BarbFive-Banded BarbBoesemani RainbowfishNeon Dwarf RainbowfishMadagascar RainbowfishThreadfin RainbowfishCelebes RainbowfishHoney GouramiSparkling GouramiMoonlight GouramiChocolate GouramiParadise FishKeyhole CichlidFiremouth CichlidGreen TerrorSeverumElectric Blue AcaraBlue AcaraRainbow CichlidYellow Lab CichlidDemasoni CichlidAcei CichlidAuratus CichlidPeacock CichlidMultifasciatusJulidochromisPygmy CorySterbai CoryJulii CoryGlass CatfishUpside-Down CatfishYoyo LoachZebra LoachDojo LoachHillstream LoachRubber Lip PlecoClown PlecoSiamese Algae EaterRainbow SharkRed Tail SharkFlying FoxDwarf PufferfishFigure-8 PufferAfrican Butterfly FishGolden Wonder KillifishLeast KillifishFancy GoldfishRosy Red MinnowGhost ShrimpBamboo ShrimpCrystal Red ShrimpAssassin SnailRamshorn SnailMalaysian Trumpet SnailRabbit SnailGold TetraPenguin TetraRed Eye TetraFlame TetraBleeding Heart TetraColombian TetraBucktooth TetraSilver DollarGalaxy RasboraPhoenix RasboraEmerald Eye RasboraAxelrod's RasboraLeopard DanioGold Ring DanioRuby BarbMelon BarbTurquoise RainbowfishForktail Blue-eyeRed RainbowfishSnakeskin GouramiLicorice GouramiCroaking GouramiThick-Lipped GouramiPeaceful BettaStrawberry BettaGolden RamFlag AcaraGold SeverumFestivum CichlidSalvini CichlidYellow Dwarf CichlidAgassiz's Dwarf CichlidHongsloi CichlidCheckerboard CichlidElectric Yellow CichlidRed Zebra CichlidCompressed CichlidBrichardiCalvus CichlidTropheus DuboisiShell-DwellerEmerald CoryAlbino CoryThree-Striped CoryAdolfo's CoryHabrosus CoryZebra OtoDwarf Chain LoachHorseface LoachLeopard Frog Pleco (L134)Zebra Pleco (L046)Gold Nugget Pleco (L177)Vampire ShrimpBlue Dream ShrimpYellow ShrimpBlack Diamond ShrimpBumblebee ShrimpRed Claw CrabLyretail KillifishClown KillifishRed SwordtailHigh-Fin PlatyBalloon MollySailfin MollyAmerican FlagfishIndian Glassfish

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