Leopard bush fish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leopard bush fish |
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| The leopard bush fish is native to the basin of the Congo River (dark blue) |
The leopard bush fish (Ctenopoma acutirostre) is a cool freshwater fish! People also call it the spotted ctenopoma or spotted bushfish. It belongs to a special group of fish called labyrinth fish, which includes gouramies. These fish have a unique organ that helps them breathe air from the surface.
You can often find leopard bush fish in pet stores. They are popular in the aquarium hobby, especially for beginners looking for an unusual and interesting pet fish.
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Where Leopard Bush Fish Live
The leopard bush fish comes from the Congo River basin in Middle Africa. This is a huge river system! These fish are super adaptable. They can live in many different places within the Congo River, from fast-moving streams to calm, still ponds.
How Big Do They Get?
Leopard bush fish grow slowly. It can take several years for them to reach their full size. In the wild, they can grow up to 20 cm (8 in) long. If you keep them in an aquarium, a fish of 15 cm (6 in) is considered quite large.
Leopard Bush Fish in Aquariums
Many people think the leopard bush fish is a tough and interesting pet fish. They can sometimes fit into a community tank with other fish. However, you need to be careful because they can be a bit aggressive.
In the wild, leopard bush fish are predators. This means they will eat smaller fish, like an adult female guppy. But they usually leave bigger fish alone. It's not a good idea to put them with very large or aggressive cichlids. Those fish might hurt the leopard bush fish or steal their food.
Good tank mates for a leopard bush fish include medium-sized gourami species, bala sharks, silver dollars, Corydoras catfish, and Ancistrus catfish. Basically, any fish that won't fit into the leopard bush fish's mouth is a good choice! They love having lots of space and places to hide. A 55-gallon tank is a good size if it's not too crowded and has a good filter.
What Leopard Bush Fish Eat
In their natural home, leopard bush fish will eat any fish or insect they find that is small enough to swallow. In an aquarium, they can learn to eat dead foods. They often enjoy bloodworms (which are midge larvae) and some sinking pellets.
However, most leopard bush fish don't usually eat flake foods. Many people like to feed them live food. This way, they can watch the fish's cool and unusual way of stalking its prey.
Gallery
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Mounted specimen
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In the aquarium
