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Reedfish

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iReedfish

Image:Akwa19 reedfish.jpg

Conservation status

Secure

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Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Polypteriformes
Family:	Polypteridae
Genus:	Erpetoichthys
Species:	E. calabricus

Binomial name

Erpetoichthys calabricus
(Smith, 1865)

The reedfish, Erpetoichthys calabaricus, ropefish, or snakefish is a species of freshwater fish in the bichir family and order. It is the only member of the genus Erpetoichthys. It is native to West Africa, with its natural habitat stretching from Nigeria to the Congo.

The reedfish has a maximum total length of 90 centimetres, and it is a very long, slender fish (its length is about 24 times its height). It lives in slow-moving, brackish, warm water, and it can breathe air (meaning it is able to survive in water with low dissolved oxygen content). The reedfish is a nocturnal creature, feeding on annelid worms, crustaceans and insects at night. The reedfish serves little purpose to humans, although it is sometimes displayed in aquariums. Its genus name Erpetoichthys derives from the Greek words erpeton ("creeping thing") and ichthys ("fish").

[edit] In the aquarium

Although reedfish are not commonly found in aquarium stores, they make wonderful pets. They are inquisitive, peaceful, and have a some "personality." Although reedfish can grow to be 24" to 30" in length, 12" to 15" is much more common^{[citation needed]}. Because of their flexibility, however, ropefish can be kept successfully in a 12"-wide tank, which makes a 20-, 29-, or 30-gallon or larger tank perfect. Although nocturnal, reedfish will sometimes come out during the day, and this can be encouraged by daytime feeding of bloodworms or, for larger fish, nightcrawlers. The fish are known to jump, so the aquarium should have a tightly-fitting lid without large holes.