How to Care for a Ropefish

Ropefish, which are more commonly referred to as reedfish, are specialized fish with long, eel-like bodies sometimes reaching up to 35 inches or more. These fish are peaceful by nature and despite their exotic-looking appearance are relatively easy to care for, particularly for the experienced fish keeper. Ropefish should be kept with other peaceful fish like tetras or discus fish and have only moderately strict water requirements.

Things You'll Need

  • 55-gallon tank (minimum)
  • Dechlorinator
  • Aquarium gravel
  • Hanging filter
  • Aquarium heater
  • Thermometer
  • Tight-fitting tank hood with light
  • Meaty foods
  • Feeding tongs
  • Water testing kit
  • pH buffers (if necessary)
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Instructions

  1. Setting Up the Tank

    • 1

      Place the tank in an area where it will not be exposed to too much direct sunlight. Too much direct sunlight may contribute to the proliferation of unwanted algae in your tank.

    • 2

      Layer the bottom of the tank with about 2 inches of gravel. This substrate will provide room for beneficial bacteria to grow, which aid in filtration.

    • 3

      Fill the tank with water until the waterline is about 2 to 3 inches from the top. Ropefish like to jump, and lowering the waterline will help prevent (but not totally prevent) them from jumping out. Add dechlorinator to remove any harmful chemicals like chlorine.

    • 4

      Install the filter. You should not need any more than a hanging filter for the ropefish, as it's not a messy fish, though the filter should be powerful enough to handle the tank size. Check the filter's packaging to make sure it is the appropriate size for your aquarium and consult the owner's manual for specific installation instructions.

    • 5

      Install the aquarium heater, which should stick to the inside of the aquarium's wall with suction cups. This heater should be set to keep the temperature between 79 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit, which you can monitor with a thermometer.

    • 6

      Add any decor, like logs, plants or rocks, and wait 48 hours for the tank to cycle. After 48 hours has passed, test the aquarium parameters with the freshwater test kit to make sure the pH is between 6.0 and 7.5. If you need to adjust it, add a pH buffer, which is available from any pet shop and can bring your pH up or down depending on your needs. Once everything's set, you can add your ropefish.

    Care and Feeding

    • 7

      Feed the ropefish a variety of meaty foods using the feeding tongs. These foods can include earthworms, tubifex worms or bloodworms. Feeding them with feeding tongs makes it difficult for other fish in the tank to steal their food, as the ropefish is often bullied because of its peaceful nature. Oftentimes, your ropefish will swim to the top of the tank when you offer it food.

    • 8

      Seal off any open areas at the top of the tank with packaging tape. The ropefish is a prolific escape artist and can jump through even small open areas. Make sure the hood of the tank fits tightly.

    • 9

      Change about one-quarter of the water once every two weeks, replacing the old water with newer water and immediately adding the proper dosage of dechlorinator. Ropefish do not need very clean water and are used to low-oxygen environments, so keeping the water pristine is not really necessary unless there are other more sensitive fish in the tank.

    • 10

      Remove fish from the aquarium that may bully the ropefish. Ropefish are not aggressive and may often fall victim to pecking from other fish in the tank, which can lead to physical damage.