name that fish

marie-p

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After I moved, I left my fishies with friends because I didn't have room. Now I have some room so I decided to take my fish tank back, but with only one fish this time.

That fish was given to me about 2 years ago. Since then, I've had many, many aquarium disasters, costing the life of most of my fish. Except for him. He seems unkillable!

Anyways, I just realized that I never even gave him/her a name. So I'm asking for suggestions...
I don't know if it's a male or a female. Names of either gender would be fine.

Here are some old pics of him:




I know he's kind of freaky looking. Actually, he kind of freaks me out too when he starts swimming around really fast


For those of you who are curious, he's a ropefish (also known as reedfish or snakefish). They are from muddy african rivers and can grow to be around 36" long (mine is around 10" and doesn't seem to be growing very fast). They are carnivorous.
They are also able to breathe atmospheric air (their swim bladder is used as a primitive lung). In fact, if their access to the surface is blocked, they will drown.
Some of them like to escape... and they can live for up to 8 hours out of the water. Luckily, mine never did and I'll make extra sure he never does!!
Really neat little animals.
When he dies I don't think I'll replace him though. Since I got him, I found out that they do not breed in captivity and are all caught in the wild. I feel kind of bad about that.

Anyways, enough for the science lesson!

Now I need names. Any ideas??
 

AbbysMom

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I've had similar aquarium dilemmas and when we move I disassembled my aquarium and gave my last 2 living fish to my brother.

How about "slick"?
 

emma's friend

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That is one cool looking fish!


How about something Viking-ish? RAGNAAR

I understand your guilty feelings about the fish. When my boy got his aquarium he fell in love with these painted glass fish at Petsmart. We got some but they made my feel terrible b/c they had been injected with dye to make them colorful. The dye eventually came out of their system however, and two of the original three fish we got over THREE YEARS AGO are still with us!
 

fwan

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they are really
i saw some at the pet store the other day and forget it im never going to get one, its probably why all of your fishies die!

I got my fish tank back... hmm oct/november last year and my algea eater and one of my fishies are still alive.
MIL got me 10 fishies for my tank i think its a bit too much for a small tank but im getting my mummy to buy me a new fish tank


why dont you just call it
SNAKY?
 

dinahcat

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Just curious. Where are you from? This kind of fish is also known as a snakehead, and are considered illegal in the states due to the fact that they can breathe out of water, and they end up killing most every other fish it comes in contact with.
 

wellingtoncats

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Originally Posted by DinahCat

Just curious. Where are you from? This kind of fish is also known as a snakehead, and are considered illegal in the states due to the fact that they can breathe out of water, and they end up killing most every other fish it comes in contact with.
OMG scary!!
 
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marie-p

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Originally Posted by DinahCat

Just curious. Where are you from? This kind of fish is also known as a snakehead, and are considered illegal in the states due to the fact that they can breathe out of water, and they end up killing most every other fish it comes in contact with.
Actually, I'm in Canada. I've never heard of those fish being illegal anywhere.
This fish has been in contact with many other fish (tetras, plecos, gouramis, loaches...) and the only ones he ever killed were the ones small enough to fit in his mouth (such as the small neon tetras). That's actually the only warning I've ever found about them... don't put them with fish small enough to eat. Other than that they are a quite peaceful fish.
I also can't imagine it surviving in the wild (let alone reproducing) and causing environmental damage if released (not that anyone should EVER do that anyways).

I'll look into it though. Let me know if you can find more information on them being illegal.
 

katachtig

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Originally Posted by Emma's Friend

That is one cool looking fish!


How about something Viking-ish? RAGNAAR

Perfect name for the fish.

 
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