Kalamoicht Calabarsky: snake fish in a home aquarium

The Kalamoichta snake fish is distinguished by a long, round, smooth body, like a real snake. The picture is complemented by diamond-shaped scales, yellowish-beige in the abdominal region and green-brown in the upper body. The light pectoral fins look funny, as if the fish is waving its tiny paws in the water. The body ends with a small rounded fin. Next to it on the back of the snake fish are spikes, which are usually pressed against the scales. But at the sight of danger, they stand on end.

In nature, kalamoicht lives in Nigeria and Southeast Asia. There in the reservoirs you can meet an adult individual 90 centimeters long. However, in an aquarium, kalamoichts usually grow up to 25-35 centimeters.

Calamoicht Calabarsky in an aquarium is able to live for seven to ten years. But for a long happy life, he needs personal space. For a pair of Kalamoichts, you will need an aquarium with a volume of hundreds of liters, with a wide bottom. Snake fish are suitable for water acidity from 5,5 to 7,5, and hardness from five to 15. The temperature regime without sudden changes, ranging from 22 to 29 degrees.

These creatures love clean water, so be sure to consider filtration and stock up on drip tests to monitor water quality. The snake fish breathes with lungs, it is for it that there is no particular need for aeration. However, aeration will be needed for beneficial bacteria, as well as other types of fish living in an aquarium.

In the aquarium, the kalamoicht is mobile, inquisitive, likes to swim up to the glass and look at life outside the aquarium. During water changes, he willingly allows the owner to stroke himself. Kalamoichts under water sometimes manage to crawl into the hole between the snags, then chew food with a smack, then yawn, then hide in shelters, then swim to communicate with their relatives.

Usually they give birth to a couple of Kalamoihts – a boy and a girl. But don’t expect a population explosion. In captivity, snake fish almost do not breed. If you decide to have three, do not allow two males to fight for the attention of one lady. But in general, a company of several individuals of Kalamoichta live together.

Distinguishing a lady from a gentleman is easy. The Kalamoiht girl has a slightly sagging tummy. Her anal fin is much lighter than that of the male Kalamoicht. In the female, this fin has a yellowish-olive hue. The number of spines-fins on the back differs. The ladies have them from nine to 12, and the gentlemen have from 12 to 14.

An energetic character is able to play a cruel joke with Kalamoihts. Provide the aquarium with a reliable lid, even a relatively small crack can lead to tragedy. The snake fish will jump out of the aquarium. The chances of saving her will be extremely small, even if you quickly notice what happened. A similar warning applies to all tubes in aquarium equipment. Consider how to prevent the snake fish from exploring them.

Provide your exotic ward with enough safe hiding places in the aquarium. Clay shards, snags, grottoes and caves, other decor for these purposes is suitable. The more hiding options, the more confident the snake fish feels and the less it hides from you.

Lighting can be anything, in this matter, kalamoicht is completely undemanding. Peak activity occurs in low light. Calamoicht Calabar is a nocturnal predator.

The night hunter does not need sharp eyesight, so the food of the kalamoikhta is sought out with the help of smell. But rest assured, he will remember what time lunch is. And will sail in advance in anticipation of food. The juvenile can be fed once a day five or six days a week. And an adult snake fish can be safely fed every other day.

Bloodworms (live or frozen), tubifex, daphnia are suitable for this predator. Kalamoicht also eats dry food, but with less enthusiasm. These can be granules or tablets for bottom fish. But in his case, dry food should not be the basis of the diet. 

It is better to feed this twilight inhabitant after the end of the meal for the rest of the fish. Kalamoicht may simply not have time to grab his portion of food due to imperfect vision.

In the case of Kalamoicht, compatibility is a delicate issue. A good solution would be to settle Kalamoihts along with peaceful medium-sized fish. Prosperous will be the neighborhood with African cichlids. The snake fish will get along with the polypterus, which also have extremely ancient ancestors. Kalamoihts can be settled together with scalars, thorns, catfish.

There are also controversial points. In open sources, you can find reviews of aquarists about the peaceful coexistence of Kalamoichts with large synodontis catfish, and about their aggressive neighborhood. The same with veiltails. Some aquarists claim that snake fish and goldfish live in the same aquarium without any problems. Others note with regret that the attempt to house these fish together failed.

Small fish like guppies, mollies and neons, as well as shrimp and snails, will arouse appetite in a snake fish rather than good neighborly feelings. After all, Kalamoicht is a predator. If there are small fish around, and the kalamoicht does not get enough food, he will certainly start hunting.

Calamoicht Calabarsky is not a fish for a beginner, experience is needed to care for a snake fish. However, knowledge about this most interesting aquarium inhabitant will allow you to refrain from hasty decisions and properly prepare to become the happy owner of this miracle.

The article was written with the support of an expert:

Andrey Ermakov — terrarium and aquarist with 20 years of experience, breeder of reptiles and amphibians.