An ancient, eel-like bichir relative from West Africa with elongated, snake-like body, paired lungs that let it breathe air, and an appetite for worms and small fish. Surprisingly social, peaceful, and curious, it explores the bottom at dusk and is a hardy, long-lived oddball.
ℹ️
Educational only. KinStation content is reviewed by licensed veterinarians but cannot replace an in-person exam. Always consult a licensed veterinarian or board-certified specialist for diagnosis, treatment, or any decision affecting your pet's health.
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Slow fresh and brackish waters of West Africa (Niger Delta to Congo)
Origin
Old World
Climate
🌴 Tropical
Water type
💧 Freshwater
Family
Polypteridae
Genus
Erpetoichthys
Part of the Freshwater oddballs
Unusual, conversation-piece freshwater fish — knifefish, elephantnoses, bichirs, butterflyfish and other novelties prized for strange shapes, behaviors or electric senses rather than schooling color.
From the minimum an animal needs to be kept humanely, up to the ideal setup. Bigger is almost always better — minimums are floors, not targets.
Photo coming soon
Minimum
Long lidded eel tank
55 gal / 200 L (≥4 ft, tight lid)
Erpetoichthys calabaricus reaches 40 cm and is a nocturnal eel-like fish. ESCAPE ARTIST — every opening must be sealed. Sand substrate, caves, peaceful larger tankmates.
Photo coming soon
Recommended
Larger long community
75–90 gal / 280–340 L
Long footprint for cruising. Group of 2–3 (peaceful with conspecifics). Pair only with fish too large to swallow. Feed live/frozen at dusk.
Photo coming soon
Ideal
West African biotope
125 gal+ / 470 L+ biotope
Long biotope with deep sand, driftwood mazes, dim light, and a small group. Most natural nocturnal hunting and surface-breathing behaviour.
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
Photo coming soon
Egg
Fish eggs are small, translucent spheres, often laid in clutches on plants, substrate, or in a nest — or carried/brooded by a parent in livebearing and mouth-brooding species. A dark eye spot and the curled embryo become visible inside as development progresses.
Photo coming soon
Fry
Newly hatched fry are tiny and semi-transparent, frequently still carrying a yolk sac that fuels them before they feed freely. They lack full fin structure and adult coloration, staying near cover until they can swim and forage on their own.
Photo coming soon
Juvenile
Juveniles look like miniature adults but with developing fins and muted or different markings; many species shift pattern and color as they mature. Growth is rapid at this stage given clean water and steady feeding.
Adult
Adults show the species' full size, finnage, and mature coloration, and are sexually mature. Many fish develop sex-specific differences in size, color, or fin shape, which can intensify during breeding.
Habitat & enclosure
Provide at least 150-200 L (40-55 gal) with a long footprint; reedfish like company, so size up for groups. Soft to moderately hard water, pH 6.0-7.5, temperature 22-28 C (72-82 F), with gentle, low flow.
Dense cover — driftwood, caves, rockwork, broad-leaved plants — makes this secretive fish confident. It surfaces periodically to gulp air, so leave an air gap above the water.
Substrate
Use soft sand or smooth, rounded gravel so the fish can burrow and slither without injuring its ganoid-armored body. Provide tubes, caves, and tangled wood as hides.
Equipment & setup
Run gentle biological filtration with low surface agitation, a heater, and dim lighting. Most important is a completely sealed lid — cover every opening — plus an air gap so the fish can take atmospheric breaths.
Diet
Carnivore that hunts by smell at night. Feed meaty foods: earthworms, blackworms, frozen bloodworms, mussel, chopped fish, and sinking carnivore pellets. A slow eater easily beaten to food, so feed after lights-out and ensure items reach the bottom.
Behavior & temperament
Peaceful and gregarious — keep two or more, as they often rest piled together. Will, however, eat any tankmate small enough to swallow (small tetras, shrimp, fry), so choose medium, calm companions. Compatible with peaceful larger community fish; avoid aggressive or very boisterous species.
Health
Hardy and disease-resistant but scaleless on the head and sensitive to copper and overdosed medications. The notorious escape artist of the hobby — gaps around lids, filters, and cords are the leading cause of death. Ensure surface access for air-breathing or it can suffocate.
Tips, DIY & hacks
Seal the tank like a vault: weight the lid and plug every cable and filter gap, because reedfish escape through astonishingly small holes. Keep them in groups of 2-5 for natural piling behavior, and target-feed worms at night so they aren't outcompeted. Never dose copper-based treatments.
