snake fish

Scientific name Erpetoichthys calabaricus
Descriptor Smith
Year of description 1865
IUCN category (World) NT
Family Polypteridae
Genus Erpetoichthys
Erpetoichthys calabaricus Erpetoichthys calabaricus

Introduction

Erpetoichthys calabaricus, commonly known as snake fish, is a fresh water fish from the Africa.

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Who is it?

Morphology

  • Average size
    32 cm
  • Maximum size
    37 cm
  • Longevity
    20 year
  • Pattern
    drawn scales
  • Average size
    32 cm
  • Maximum size
    37 cm
  • Longevity
    20 year
  • Pattern
    drawn scales

How to recognize the snake fish ?

The snake fish measures between 32 and 37 cm. This fish is bicolore with a predominantly vert and orange body. The also has vert drawn scales.

Behaviour & Life cycle

  • diet
    carnivorous
  • Sociability
    solitary
  • territorial
    No
  • Way of living
    nocturnal

The snake fish is a fish solitary naturally found near the bottom. This species is carnivorous . This fish lives mainly at night. Usually, it leaves its hiding place and starts to be active once it gets dark.

Although the snake fish is non-territorial, it is sometimes aggressive towards other species.

Reproduction

Harmless species

This species does not represent any particular threats to humans when encountered in its natural environment.

Where to find it?

Conservation status of populations (IUCN)

World : NT

Where to see this species?

What is its habitat?

Natural environment characteristics

  • Temperature
    26 - 30 °C
  • pH (acidity)
    6 - 7.5
  • gh (hardness)
    8 - 20
  • Flow
    Slow and Stagnant

Biotope presentation

The snake fish is most often found at a depth between 0m and 2m. However, it is not impossible to find this species at other depths. This animal evolves in areas characterized by a strong presence of vegetation (aquatic and marsh plants, decaying organic matter, roots...).

This species lives near large roots, in which it can find refuge in case of danger. This type of habitat is often found not far from the banks.

Species of the same biotope

Main recommendations for fishkeeping

Deontology

In order to preserve wildlife, if you acquire this animal, it must not be released into the wild. See also, the Fishipedia charter.

Fishipedia supports the practice of responsible and environmentally friendly aquarium keeping. We encourage maintenance if it is motivated by a desire to understand the biological functioning of living things and if it is done with respect for animal life.

We believe that aquaristics is an opening to the discovery of aquatic environments, especially freshwater, and that this knowledge is necessary to better protect and respect these environments. Logically, we refute the compulsive purchase of animals that would not find a sufficient and / or adapted place in the host aquarium.

Our recommendations

  • Min volume
    210 liters
  • Population min
    not specified
  • Temperature
    26 - 30 °C
  • pH (acidity)
    6 - 7.5

Characteristics

  • Difficulty breeding
    moderate
  • Behaviour
    slightly aggressive
  • Availability
    occasional

General reminders

It is strongly advised to read the complete dedicated file and to get information on the feedbacks of maintenance of the envisaged animal, this to avoid any potential conflict whose end result is generally the death of the individual (or the other inhabitants). It is important not to overload your aquarium to limit pollution. This will make maintenance easier.

In nature, animals are subject to weather conditions and live in waters with variable characteristics. The recommendations offered by our team for aquarium maintenance are a guidance and cannot be assimilated to scientific datas.

General reminder on maintenance datas

Le démarrage d'un aquarium est une partie primordiale pour l'équilibre et le bien-être des poissons. Lorsque l'on met en eau un aquarium, l'eau passe naturellement par un cycle biologique : le cycle de l'azote. Celui-ci dure environ trois semaines. Tous les 2 jours, nous vous conseillons de tester votre eau jusqu'à ce que le taux de nitrite soit à zéro pendant plusieurs jours d'affilée.

Pour accélérer ce cycle, vous pouvez utiliser un activateur de bactéries comme JBL Denitrol. Cette solution riche en bactéries vivantes et enzymes permet une mise en place rapide du cycle de l'azote. Les poissons peuvent alors être introduits plus rapidement.

Il est important de tester l'eau de son aquarium régulièrement pour maintenir un environnement sain pour les poissons et les autres habitants. Les tests d'eau permettent de mesurer les niveaux de différents paramètres tels que le pH, la dureté totale, ainsi que les taux de nitrates, de nitrites et d'ammoniaque.

Pour réaliser ces tests, vous pouvez utiliser des produits d'analyse spécialisés tels que JBL ProScan qui permet de réaliser un diagnostic de l'eau directement via un smartphone. Il existe également des coffrets de tests plus classiques de bandelettes, comme JBL PROAQUATEST.

En cas d’usage de l’eau du robinet, vous pouvez utiliser un conditionneur d’eau de type Biotopol de JBL pour éliminer les substances nocives comme le chlore, le cuivre, le plomb et le zinc. Les conditionneurs d'eau garantissent une meilleure santé aux poissons et une meilleure croissance des plantes.

Chlorine and chloramine are dangerous for the health of animals. Used to disinfect water, these agents are present in significant quantities in tap water. We recommend using an anti-chlorine agent every time you change the water. In addition to chlorine, treatments and medicines sold for aquarium use sometimes contain dangerous heavy metals in high doses.

Specific needs for the snake fish

The snake fish is a species which lives naturally at a temperature between 26 °C and 30 °C. For proper maintenance, the temperature should never exceed the 33°C for long periods. Nitrate levels should remain below 50mg/L. To keep the water clean and unpolluted, plan on changing 20% to 30% of the water volume each month.

The breeding of this species is accessible on condition of being well informed about its needs in aquarium . Any cohabitants must be chosen with care to avoid the loss of animals.

This species is generally available in specialized shops or from aquarium clubs. Specimens that have been bred for a long time are easier to breed, but special water parameters must be respected.

Cohabitation & Environment

In a community aquarium context, this species should be kept in a minimum volume of 210 liters.

The species enjoys a particularly vegetation-rich environment. The addition of plants will provide many useful hiding places for resting. These areas are also conducive to possible breeding in the aquarium.

Tips for feeding

The snake fish is carnivorous.

This species does not appreciate being fed with freeze-dried food (flakes...). Some specimens will never eat this type of food.

You should not overfeed your residents to avoid polluting the water. For most species, it is better to feed a few small portions each day rather than one large meal.

Food recommendations from our partner JBL - Products PRONOVO

Reproduction protocol

  • egg-laying protection
    No

Hybridization risks

In general, it is advised not to mix several species of the same genus or different varieties of the same species, to avoid the risks of hybridization.

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To read on the web

Sources & Contributions

Participation & Validation

The Fishipedia team and specialist contributors are committed to providing high-quality content. However, although the information comes from scientific sources or testimonials from specialists, the cards may contain inaccuracies.

Adrien Falzon

Adrien Falzon

Translation

Translation done with the valuable contribution of our translators, who make this information available to a wider audience. We sincerely thank them for their commitment.

Bibliographic references

Locomotor behavior across an environmental transition in the ropefish, Erpetoichthys calabaricus - Cinnamon M. Pace - Alice C. Gibb - Journal of Experimental Biology - 2011.

Oxygen Acquisition of the Reedfish, Erpetoichthys Calabaricus - Michael J. Pettit - Thomas L. Beitinger - Journal of Experimental Biology - 1985.

The lungs of Polypterus senegalus and Erpetoichthys calabaricus: Insights into the structure and functional distribution of the pulmonary epithelial cells - José M. Icardo - Elvira Colvee - Michal Kuciel - Eugenia R. Lauriano - Giacomo Zaccone - Journal of morphology - 2017.

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Where to see this species?

Scientific partners

Species of the same family

Species of the same biotope

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