Leopard Ctenopama Care Guide - Aquarium Setup, Diet & Breeding

The Leopard Ctenopama is a striking ambush predator with a deep, laterally compressed body covered in irregular dark spots over a tan, golden-brown or grey-brown background. Its pointed head, large eyes and extended dorsal and anal fins give it a distinctive, stealthy profile, while the camouflage pattern helps it disappear among leaves, roots and shadows.

Also known as the Leopard Bush Fish, this species belongs to the African climbing perch family. It possesses a labyrinth organ that allows it to breathe atmospheric air, although it is not a fish that climbs or travels overland in the manner sometimes associated with other labyrinth fish.

In the wild, Leopard Ctenopamas are patient hunters. They often remain motionless among vegetation and wait for smaller fish, crustaceans and aquatic invertebrates to pass within striking distance. Their protrusible mouth can open suddenly to engulf prey, making their feeding behaviour particularly fascinating to observe.

Adults are generally secretive, especially in brightly lit or sparsely furnished surroundings, and may spend much of the day sheltering beneath cover. They become more confident when their surroundings provide plenty of shaded retreats and when they are kept with suitably robust fish that cannot be swallowed.

Leopard Ctenopamas come from the central African Congo Basin, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo. They inhabit slow-moving forest streams, tributaries, pools and swamp-associated waters connected to the Congo River system.

A single Leopard Ctenopama should have an aquarium of at least 200 litres, with a footprint of roughly 120 cm by 45 cm; a larger aquarium is needed for a pair or group. Use a secure lid because this species regularly takes atmospheric air and may jump. Provide subdued lighting, floating plants, dense planting, driftwood, branches, caves and other shaded retreats, while leaving open areas for movement. A soft sand or fine rounded-gravel substrate is suitable, and gentle to moderate filtration with calm, well-oxygenated water is preferable.

Up to 20 cm (7.9 inches) in total length. Females are often slightly larger and fuller-bodied than males, although size varies between individuals.

Leopard Ctenopamas are carnivorous predators and should be offered a varied diet of quality sinking carnivore pellets alongside frozen or live foods such as bloodworm, brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, earthworms and small pieces of shellfish. They often prefer food that moves or sinks naturally, but should not be fed feeder fish, which can introduce disease and provide poor nutritional balance. Feed appropriately sized portions and allow the fish time to locate food rather than relying on rapid surface feeders.

Suitable tankmates include peaceful to moderately assertive, robust fish of a similar or larger size, such as larger Congo tetras, medium-to-large barbs, sturdy rainbowfish and appropriately sized African or South American cichlids, provided their water requirements match. Avoid very small fish, shrimp and delicate long-finned species, which may be viewed as prey or harassed. Leopard Ctenopamas can be territorial toward one another, particularly in cramped aquariums, so multiple specimens require a spacious, heavily decorated aquarium with separate retreats.

Breeding Leopard Ctenopamas is possible but uncommon in home aquariums. A well-conditioned male and female may spawn near the surface beneath floating plants, where the male gathers the buoyant eggs into a loose bubble nest and may guard them. Remove the adults or protect the eggs from predation, as the young are tiny and require appropriately sized live foods such as infusoria before progressing to baby brine shrimp. Raising a group of juveniles is often the most practical way to obtain compatible adult pairs.

Sexual differences are subtle. Mature females are usually a little larger and deeper-bodied, while males may develop more pronounced markings and small roughened patches or tubercles around the base of the tail and on the body, particularly when in breeding condition.