I am trying to find out if a Rope fish (Erpetoichthys calabaricus) is truly a brackish fish of truly a fresh water fish. I have found info supporting both sides of the argument. Wikipedia even says it's brackish and I though some one would have changed that by now if it wasn't true.... Anyway, does anyone truly know?
Does anyone REALLY know
- Thread starter lferg
- Start date
I believe most start out in fresh or brackish water but by adult require brackish close to marine to thrive. "T"
On things brackish Neale Monks is the expert.
He lists Ropefish in his list of Brackish fish but says it essentially a freshwater fish.
http://homepage.mac.com/nmonks/aquaria/brackfaqpages/Predatory_fish/(4e)ropefishes(e.html
It would seem they can survive in low end brackish but if I was setting up a system for a ropefish I would not go brackish.
He lists Ropefish in his list of Brackish fish but says it essentially a freshwater fish.
http://homepage.mac.com/nmonks/aquaria/brackfaqpages/Predatory_fish/(4e)ropefishes(e.html
It would seem they can survive in low end brackish but if I was setting up a system for a ropefish I would not go brackish.
My ropefish always did well in full FW. The ones I lost I've lost to escaping the (*$&#()$ tank =/ (this happened earlier this last week).
There are a good many species where this question comes into play...for me it was ropefish and columbian sharks. From my understanding many columbian sharks live their lives in full freshwater, only going to brackish or full marine water to breed, and then returning. I've personally seen extremely active and healthy ropefish (and columbian sharks) that are in full freshwater, NO salt whatsoever, and had been all their lives. An aquarium/lfs here in town had a ropefush that was HUGE, in full freshwater. They'd had him for at least two years that I know of. Same aquarium/lfs has a small school of columbians that are just about a foot long (I checked on this this yesterday), again...in freshwater.
Anyhow, I don't think these debates will ever end. My sharks seem to have come out of their ich stupor today, so I'm going to keep the salt in the tank another week to be safe, then remove it slowly. Once that's done I'll be searching out a nice supplier for two healthy ropefish...and I'll be keeping them in full freshwater!
Cris
There are a good many species where this question comes into play...for me it was ropefish and columbian sharks. From my understanding many columbian sharks live their lives in full freshwater, only going to brackish or full marine water to breed, and then returning. I've personally seen extremely active and healthy ropefish (and columbian sharks) that are in full freshwater, NO salt whatsoever, and had been all their lives. An aquarium/lfs here in town had a ropefush that was HUGE, in full freshwater. They'd had him for at least two years that I know of. Same aquarium/lfs has a small school of columbians that are just about a foot long (I checked on this this yesterday), again...in freshwater.
Anyhow, I don't think these debates will ever end. My sharks seem to have come out of their ich stupor today, so I'm going to keep the salt in the tank another week to be safe, then remove it slowly. Once that's done I'll be searching out a nice supplier for two healthy ropefish...and I'll be keeping them in full freshwater!
Cris