Ctenopoma

[New Boy]

Are there any ctenopoma that would be ok with my current fish? I've read that all ctenopoma are predatory and therefore not a good idea for a community tank but just want to see if anyone has different experiences. Would they get terrritorial with gourami's as I may getting a pair of honey gourami's from my sisters tank. Are there any that stay small (2 inches or so) that would be ok in a community tank. My water's ph is about 7.6, would this cause a problem.

Also for my understanding do all ctenopoma come from africa?

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks
Andy

 

[CFC]

Any of the smaller Ctenopoma species would work with your current fish with only fish under 2 1/2 inches are in danger of being eaten. Ctenopoma oxyrhynchum(mottled Ctenopoma) and Ctenopoma ocellatum are quite commonly imported by the more specialist shops so shouldnt be to difficult to find. Both these fish will grow to between 2/1/2 and 4 inches.

All Ctenopoma species come from Africa.

 

[New Boy]

As always CFC your advice is greatly appreciated,

Will they be ok in ph 7.6?
Also are they fussy eaters? I feed frozen twice/thrice a week but live only once a month or so. Supplement this with cucumber, flake, pellets, freeze dried and the new liquidized type stuff.

Finally, will they get on with gourami's? Especially honey gourami's as my sister is finding new homes for most of her fish and is trying to convince me to adopt her honey gouramis! Thought there may be territorial disputes

Thanks,

 

[CFC]

They should accept frozen foods but if they prove to be fussy you may have to feed live atleast once a week until they start to accept frozen foods, it almost 99% certain they will ignore pellet and flake foods.
There shouldnt be any problems with the gouramis as they will occupy different areas of the tank (Ctenopoma are cheifly bottom dwellers).
A pH of 7.6 will be fine.

 

[Dwarfs]

My ctenopoma (C. acutirostre) will eat just about anything I give them, from flakes to peas These would be too large for your tank but I would think the smaller species would have a similar diet