Oddities
Family: Polypteridae (Bichirs)
Origins: Africa: Ogun River mouth in Nigeria to Chiloango River in Congo Brazzaville
Scientific Name: Erpetoichthys calabaricus
Common Name: Ropefish
Size: 36"
Preferred pH range: 6.8 – 7.4
Temperature Range: 72-78 F
Temperment: Community / semi aggrsive / will eat small fish
Comments: In slow flowing rivers and standing waters. Apparently restricted to reedy habitats. It moves snake-wise over the bottom, but it can also side-wind quite rapidly through the wate. Feeds at night on worms, crustaceans and insects. Able to breathe air and thus can tolerate low oxygen concentrations.
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Ropefish
Family: Pantodontidae (Freshwater Butterflyfish)
Origins: West and Central Africa: Nigeria, Lake Chad, Cameroon, Ogowe basin, Congo basin and upper Zambezi River. Eastern limit of its distribution seems to be the Ouémé River in Benin, but it is also observed in Jong River, Sierra Leone.
Scientific Name: Pantodon buchholzi
Common Name: African Butterfly
Size: 4.5"
Preferred pH range: 6.8 – 7.4
Temperature Range: 72-78 F
Temperment: Community / semi aggrsive / will eat small fish
Comments: Pantodon buchholzi is a creature from calm waters. It lives in swamps, creeks and backwaters, and inhabits the calmer parts of rivers, where it can be seen on the surface waters. They are able to jump out of the water, to search for insects or to escape from predators. It is not a glider, but a ballistic jumper, with a tremendous jumping power. It is an insectivore, feeding on terrestrial insects and aquatic larvae and nymphs of insects. It also feeds on crustaceans and fish. Introduced in 1905 to European aquarists. Pantodon buchholzi is a favorite fish for aquarists; in the aquarium it can rest with the top of the head and the large pectoral fins touching the surface, while the long rays of the pelvic fin hang down perpendicularly, forming a tempting morsel for other aggressive fish in the same tank, and therefore it should be stocked together with only bottom dwellers
African Butterfly
