Adding A Single Larger Ctenopoma Acutirostre

[N0body Of The Goat]

The fish store on my delivery round has had a single Leopard Bushfish of ~10cm SL in a bare tank for several weeks now, which looks great but at the same time looks "unhappy" at having no plants or bogwood to hang out in. Looking at the hand-written price again today, it appears it is £10 and not the £20 I thought I saw a while back (or they have lowered the price to get more intrest).

As much as I would love to give it new home in my riverine 5-footer (with loads of bogwood and big plants), I'm concerned about how the new Ctenopoma will react to finding three ~6cm SL youngsters in a new tank. From what I've read, the odds of a happy ending do not appear to look good, as they are supposed to be quite territorial towards new conspecifics.

Am I best to leave this poor fish at the store, rather than risk a bloodbath?

 

[nmonks]

In a 5-foot tank you should be fine.

Cheers, Neale

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Hoped you might add some input, thanks Neale, I might have to "rescue" him/her on Monday!

At the moment it looks painfully unhappy trying to "blend" into the filtration pipe in the back corner of the 36" display tank, which it shares with a lovely looking fully grown ~15cm SL Mystus leucophasis (wish they did not have the reputation considering tankmates upto 75% of their own size as "live snacks") and an equally nice ~15cm SL Synodontis notatus (which I've just looked up at Planet Catfish and despite its size is quite a peaceful and active catfish)... Both of which are £15 each and are not stocked in any other Southampton fish shops.

But I digress, its the Bushfish I most want to give a better quality of life and if things go well it might become a gentle giant leader for the group of what will become four.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Brought him (I say "him" as the LFS net caught on spines by the gill plates) home and he has settled in extremely well, loves exploring the layout of the 5-footer and the trio of younger Ctenopoma are following their new leader around the tank!

 

[moochy13]

any update on the bushfish ? i saw some today today and am intrigued, possibly interested. though i read you should only have 1, and it will eat anything it can get in its mouth.