Rope Fish The reed fish, also called the rope fish, are in the African bichir family but truly look and behave like benign eels. These are gentle, long fish have lungs that enable them to tolerate all kinds of water conditions and they can live in brackish or salt water. Good luck breeding them, the males and females are identical and no one has ever done it. Reedfish move more at night and will not harm anything that can't fit in their very small mouths. Scientific Name: ERPETOICHTHYS CALABARICUS Origin: West Africa Lifespan: 10 years Max size: 14 inches Food: Live feeders, frozen, pellets Shipping Size: Approx.  10 inches