Leopard Bushfish/ Climbing Perch

[mattlee]

i have a single bushfish in with my discus and really want a mate or 2 for him. do they bully each other? if so would 3 be a good numbert to get? i originally bought 2 very small ones but 1 died soon after getting it so i now have the lone survivor. he is doing great and since adding discus he is getting plenty of meat and growing fast... im loving this fish and would love 1 or 2 more.

 

[nmonks]

They are mildly territorial towards each other, but if the tank is big enough, groups are easy to maintain. I'd sooner get three than two, simply to avoid bullying, but that said, I kept two without the least bother (they were, I think, one of each sex though). Allow 15-20 gallons per specimen.

Cheers, Neale

 

[mattlee]

They are mildly territorial towards each other, but if the tank is big enough, groups are easy to maintain. I'd sooner get three than two, simply to avoid bullying, but that said, I kept two without the least bother (they were, I think, one of each sex though). Allow 15-20 gallons per specimen.

Cheers, Neale

Hi Neale,

the current tank is 55G 240L 4ft and quite heavily planted. i think mine is a male as it has the spines above the gills and is about 2 inch minimum. i am upgrading to a 6x2x2 tank hopefully within the next 2-3 months so there will be loads of room for them in there.
should i try and go for similar sized specimins?

 

[nmonks]

Ideally, yes, but if you can choose females, I'd get those regardless of size. Indeed, if the females are *bigger* than the male, that's even better!

Cheers, Neale

should i try and go for similar sized specimins?

 

[mattlee]

Ideally, yes, but if you can choose females, I'd get those regardless of size. Indeed, if the females are *bigger* than the male, that's even better!

Cheers, Neale

should i try and go for similar sized specimins?

thanks again,

is the only way of sexing the spines?

also when i get the bigger tank i want to keep dats, would these be ok with the perch?

 

[nmonks]

is the only way of sexing the spines?

So far as I know.

also when i get the bigger tank i want to keep dats, would these be ok with the perch?

Wouldn't have thought so. Ctenopoma acutirostre is essentially an African angelfish, and should be kept the same way. It's a fairly small, shy animal that likes slow moving water and lots of floating plants. Discus are great companions because they want precisely the same thing. Datnioides are totally different, being much bigger riverine fish that like strong currents. Some species prefer (arguably, need) brackish water, and none of them particularly cares for soft/acid conditions or the high temperatures either discus or Ctenopoma enjoy. So I don't see any overlap at all.

Cheers, Neale

 

[mattlee]

is the only way of sexing the spines?

So far as I know.

also when i get the bigger tank i want to keep dats, would these be ok with the perch?

Wouldn't have thought so. Ctenopoma acutirostre is essentially an African angelfish, and should be kept the same way. It's a fairly small, shy animal that likes slow moving water and lots of floating plants. Discus are great companions because they want precisely the same thing. Datnioides are totally different, being much bigger riverine fish that like strong currents. Some species prefer (arguably, need) brackish water, and none of them particularly cares for soft/acid conditions or the high temperatures either discus or Ctenopoma enjoy. So I don't see any overlap at all.

Cheers, Neale

i will be keeping the discus in their own tank and the new tank will be pH 7.5-8 and medium/hard as this is my tap pH. could i not add the perch with the dats if i had lots of sheltered areas for them and held back a bit on the flow rate?

 

[nmonks]

i will be keeping the discus in their own tank and the new tank will be pH 7.5-8 and medium/hard as this is my tap pH. could i not add the perch with the dats if i had lots of sheltered areas for them and held back a bit on the flow rate?

Why bother? In reducing the flow for the Ctenopoma you'll be wasting turnover and diminishing water quality so far as riverine fish are concerned. Floating plants will just get blasted around the tank, removing the cover the Ctenopoma need. If you want a climbing perch for a riverine system, have a look for the (subtropical) Sandelia spp. Wildwoods has had them in stock, but they are admittedly very rarely traded fish, and very much fish for expert aquarists. Otherwise, take a look at Pristolepis, which are quite widely traded now. They are lovely fish, and not at all difficult to keep, despite being "leaf fish".

Cheers, Neale

 

[mattlee]

i will be keeping the discus in their own tank and the new tank will be pH 7.5-8 and medium/hard as this is my tap pH. could i not add the perch with the dats if i had lots of sheltered areas for them and held back a bit on the flow rate?

Why bother? In reducing the flow for the Ctenopoma you'll be wasting turnover and diminishing water quality so far as riverine fish are concerned. Floating plants will just get blasted around the tank, removing the cover the Ctenopoma need. If you want a climbing perch for a riverine system, have a look for the (subtropical) Sandelia spp. Wildwoods has had them in stock, but they are admittedly very rarely traded fish, and very much fish for expert aquarists. Otherwise, take a look at Pristolepis, which are quite widely traded now. They are lovely fish, and not at all difficult to keep, despite being "leaf fish".

Cheers, Neale

good point, ill check them out. im new to oddballs so have never even seen or heard of many i just fancied my new tank to have somethins a bit different from the norm as i have a couple of planted com tanks already.
if i went with dats would i be able to keep corys in with them or would they get munched...?

sorry about all the questions, i just want to get it right first time.... all being well!

 

[nmonks]

if i went with dats would i be able to keep corys in with them or would they get munched...?

#40## right they would get munched! Go with something sturdier, perhaps Callichthys or Hoplosternum, both of which are big, very hardy, and somewhat boisterous catfish ideally suited to robust community tanks. Both are dead ugly, but in an appealing way, and both are active by day too. Much underrated catfish, though in the past they were very popular staples of the hobby.

Cheers, Neale

 

[mattlee]

if i went with dats would i be able to keep corys in with them or would they get munched...?

#40## right they would get munched! Go with something sturdier, perhaps Callichthys or Hoplosternum, both of which are big, very hardy, and somewhat boisterous catfish ideally suited to robust community tanks. Both are dead ugly, but in an appealing way, and both are active by day too. Much underrated catfish, though in the past they were very popular staples of the hobby.

Cheers, Neale

ok Neale,

it looks like i have quite a bit of research to be doing..... thanks for your input mate

i dont mind ugly fish as they sometimes can be beautifull with their uglyness if you know what i mean....!

 

[indigoj]

Hi Matt,

As you may remember I keep a group of 4 Ctenopoma together and have done since they were tiny. They are no trouble, I think I have 3 females and 1 male but they are in a mixed community so have not bred at all.

 

[mattlee]

Hi Matt,

As you may remember I keep a group of 4 Ctenopoma together and have done since they were tiny. They are no trouble, I think I have 3 females and 1 male but they are in a mixed community so have not bred at all.

Hi,
i think ill try another 2 and try and get females if possible, if i can find any for sale that is......

Matt

 

[DarkEntity]

is the only way of sexing the spines?

So far as I know.

Neale.

i kept a pair again with no problems but i am almost positive i had a male and female. One had what could best be described as a horn on its nose where the other never. This spikey protrusion never appeared until they were a good 6" in size though...

having said that as soon as this horn type thing was there I did notice I had regular dances very similar to that of Kribensis.

You can just see it on this image

and this was the dance

Matt

 

[Ripley]

You already have lots of really good replies, but I can't not post as these fish are my favourites! I currently have three in my 75g (they are 4+ inches), and they get along very well. I have no idea of their sexes, but so far it hasn't created any problems. One I've had for three years now, and the other two about a year and a half. The younger two have grown quite quickly, which I attribute to having them on good food right from the start. I am looking to plant the tank with live plants this year, and I'm sure my bushfish will love that.

Anyway, welcome to the addiction! And I'll leave with one of my favourite pictures.