Banded bushfish
Microctenopoma fasciolatum
Also known as Banded ctenopoma, Banded climbing perch, Ctenopoma fasciolatum
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–82°F
- 24–28°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 3.1 in
- 8 cm
- Minimum tank
- 24 gal
- 90 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Anabantidae
- Origin
- Congo River basin in central Africa, in slow, soft, densely vegetated waters.
Overview
Keep it in a 90 litre planted tank at 24 to 28 C with soft, slightly acidic water around pH 6.0 to 7.5 and dim lighting. Feed meaty live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, brine shrimp, and small earthworms, as it rarely takes dried food. It is a slow feeder that gets outcompeted by fast tankmates, so choose calm, similar-sized companions. Provide plenty of plants and wood for cover and to break up male territories.
In the wild
Found in slow, shaded, densely planted stretches of the Congo basin where the water is soft and slightly acidic. It is a slow, deliberate fish that hunts small prey among plants and cover. Its labyrinth organ lets it handle the warm, low-oxygen water it lives in. Males become territorial when defending a spawning site.
Good to know
Microctenopoma fasciolatum belongs to the family Anabantidae, the African climbing perches and bushfishes. Unlike the egg-scattering Ctenopoma species, Microctenopoma males build a bubble nest to raise their young. It grows to about 8 cm and shows barred flanks that give it the banded name.
Did you know
It builds a bubble nest among floating plants, which is unusual for an African anabantid since most of its relatives simply scatter their eggs.
Common questions
What size tank does a Banded bushfish need?
A Banded bushfish needs at least 24 gal (90 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Banded bushfish need?
A Banded bushfish is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
How big does a Banded bushfish get?
An adult Banded bushfish reaches about 3.1 in (8 cm).
Related species
3.1 in (8 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Ornate bushfish
Microctenopoma ansorgii
3.1 in (8 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
3 in (7.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Congo bushfish
Microctenopoma congicum
3 in (7.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
3 in (7.5 cm)14 gal (54 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Dwarf bushfish
Microctenopoma nanum
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4.7 in (12 cm)42 gal (160 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Mottled bushfish
Ctenopoma weeksii
4.7 in (12 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)
4.7 in (12 cm)42 gal (160 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Niger Delta bushfish
Ctenopoma nebulosum
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5.9 in (15 cm)42 gal (160 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Eyespot bushfish
Ctenopoma ocellatum
5.9 in (15 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)