Leopard Ctenopoma (Ctenopoma acutirostre). Family: Anabantidae

The native land Leopard Ctenopoma is the Central and the Western Africa. Live in a river basin of Congo, in places grassed.

At Leopard Ctenopoma (Ctenopoma acutirostre) high, flattened on each side a body. The mouth will extend. On a head huge eyes are located. Possesses camouflage colouring: on a yellowy-brown background on all body and fins the dark stains hiding contours of fish are scattered. On a tail stalk there is a vertical light strip, and the dark tail conceals its true sizes. At the basis of a tail fin one is located глазчатое a stain. There are the individuals having so dark окрас that stains become invisible on this background. At adult males - some scales with jags along the edges. Unpaired fins with a dark fringing. At females fins with small numerous stains. At length Leopard Ctenopoma can reach 15-20 Life expectancy till 6 years see.

Leopard Ctenopoma night and a bit timid small fish. Character quiet, likes to float measuredly in thickets of plants and near snags. Thanks to the form of a body and colouring well masks under various water objects and becomes invisible to potential extraction. Any small fish is pursued to it until it will appear in its mouth. For the joint maintenance fishes of the big size are recommended. Leopard Ctenopoma territorial small fish, in 100 l an aquarium 2-3 individuals hardly get on. If nevertheless you have decided to get group of fishes it is desirable to occupy in an aquarium of all simultaneously. Otherwise, at addition of new fishes later, in an aquarium war of extermination of beginners will begin and, most likely, young small fishes will be lost. Keeps Leopard Ctenopoma (Ctenopoma acutirostre) in bottom and the water middle class.

Leopard Ctenopoma (Ctenopoma acutirostre)

The spacious aquarium is necessary for the maintenance ctenopoma (approximately from 100 sm) closed by a cover (between a cover and a water surface to leave not less than 2,5 sm) for the leopard. Illumination is desirable muffled. A ground - a small pebble. In an aquarium there should be many various shelters (a cave from stones, a snag, ceramic pots etc.), thickets of plants (including floating) and an empty seat for swimming. Parametres of water for the correct maintenance Leopard Ctenopoma: rigidity 4-10 °, рН 6.0-7.2, temperature 23 - 28°С. The filtration, aeration and weekly substitution to 20 % of volume of water are necessary. Some individuals are very sensitive to widespread diseases, therefore for immunity strengthening in water add a peat extract.

Leopard Ctenopoma is omnivorous, but the preference gives to the live (frozen) forage: to the small small fish, worms, larvae.

About cultivation Leopard Ctenopoma that they do not protect posterity is known very little, only, and caviar scatter on all aquarium.