A large species for betta lovers?

[Synirr]

If any of you betta lovers have ever considered getting a slightly larger species, then I think I have the fish for you! I just got a baby spotted climbing perch (Ctenopoma acutirostre), and I swear, his behaviour is sooo betta-like! They're from the same family as bettas (anabantidae) and are also predatory... but they get 4-6"! Little Marius's face reminds me of my bettas a great deal . You can just see the intelligence in his eyes...

Yeah ok, I admit, this thread was mainly and excuse to rant about my new baby since Bettas is the only section posts like this are really appreciated, but still... any of you with a 30 gallon or larger ought to give this fish a look!

 

[sarahw20000]

Hey he sounds really nice, are his eyes blue?

You say he's predatory, would he eat my fishies in my community tank?

Also what size tank will he need eventually?

lol sorry for all the questions, it's just i've been looking for something cool to finish off my tank thats big enough to be able to see often

 

[SPLiSH]

Oh, he's so sweet! I love his colouring.... it makes him look like a leopard.

 

[cometcattle]

sarahw20000 - He would definatly eat the guppies and neons. Their mouths pretty big. I'd say he'd need a 30g min. when he reaches adulthood.

Here's a pic of mine :

 

[sarahw20000]

Oh well

The search continues....

 

[Alix]

he looks cute. but id rather stick with bettas. but when if my oscar ever dies i might get one of those. i swear my oscar is immortal. one time i completly forgot to at add the dechlorinater. an another time my lil cousin(shes only 4 so dont blame her) said he looked dirty an added ALOT of dish soap an it was in there for prolly a good five hours while i was at school!

 

[wuvmybetta]

cometcattle~ you have one,too?!

Jealous, jealous!!!!

Synirr, I saw him last night in the pic forum and omg'awd, I fell in love What a gorgeous fish. Congrats and keep us posted on him.

 

[invid]

Synirr,

I know tis is a little off topic, but I saw the names of some of your fish... Some of those are quite Biblical... Thought you might like the name I gave my Bala Shark... Balial. I do like the perch though. I just got a 60 Gallon tank and I'm planning on making it aggressive. You think the perch might get along with Oscars or Ciclids? BTW... Also a little off topic... I just got a new Betta... Named him VHS.

 

[Synirr]

sarahw20000 -- No, his eyes aren't blue, they just show up that way because of the flash on my camera... they're the same colour as his spots. Perfect camo

Wuv -- You know you want one

invid -- I used to have a betta named Belial! Same name, different spelling. He was like a big blustery red dragon. All the bettas are named after angels/demons... I like having a theme
I'm not sure about how well a climbing perch would get along with oscars, but I think it might be fine with less aggressive or smaller cichlids like severums or festivums.

 

[starrfish71]

I have kept this type of fish for years. I've always called them Leopard ctenopomas, and have a walking perch that is very different...
Anyway, I love these guys. They will eat small fish, and they can be very territorial if they are the same size or larger than any other fish. I have found they do the best if they are second largest in the tank. Behaviorally, I always thought they acted more like leaf fish than bettas....

Congrats on your new fish. Enjoy!

(p.s. the first one I had for 10 years. My current one I have had for about a year now, and he's still kinda small)