TankBud

Eyespot bushfish

Ctenopoma ocellatum

Also known as Ocellated ctenopoma

FreshwaterFish

Eyespot bushfish (Ctenopoma ocellatum)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–82°F
23–28°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
5.9 in
15 cm
Minimum tank
42 gal
160 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg scatterer
Rarity
Rare
Family
Anabantidae
Origin
Congo basin

Overview

The eyespot bushfish is a larger African labyrinth fish and a patient predator for a dim, well-planted tank. It needs a large tank and is moderately demanding to keep.

Did you know

The eyespot bushfish's false eye is a decoy. A predator aiming for it strikes at the wrong end and gets a mouthful of fin. That gives the bushfish a fraction of a second to turn and bolt the other way.

Caring for the eyespot bushfish

Give the eyespot bushfish a large, well-structured tank of at least 42 gal (160 L). Use driftwood tangles, caves and dense planting at the edges over a dark substrate. Keep the lighting low, with plenty of shadow for it to lurk in and drift out from.

It likes warm, soft to neutral water at 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5, with calm flow. Offer meaty foods such as earthworm, prawn, mussel and chunky frozen fare.

The eyespot bushfish hunts by patience, easing closer to its prey a little at a time before it strikes. It is mostly peaceful with fish too big to eat but will swallow smaller ones. Keep it only with robust tank mates of a similar size. It is not a shoaling fish, but you can keep a single fish or a small group.

True Ctenopoma scatter free-floating eggs and give no parental care. This species has no established aquarium breeding record.

Good to know

Ctenopoma ocellatum is an African labyrinth fish in the family Anabantidae, also sold as the ocellated ctenopoma. It is named for the dark, ringed eyespot near the base of its tail. It breathes air at the surface through a labyrinth organ.

In the wild

The eyespot bushfish lives in the middle Congo basin, among slow, shaded margins, submerged wood and leaf litter.

Common questions

What size tank does an eyespot bushfish need?

An eyespot bushfish needs at least 42 gal (160 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does an eyespot bushfish need?

An eyespot bushfish is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does an eyespot bushfish eat?

An eyespot bushfish eats meaty foods such as earthworm, prawn, mussel and chunky frozen fare. It will also swallow fish small enough to eat.

How big does an eyespot bushfish get?

An adult eyespot bushfish reaches about 5.9 in (15 cm).

How does an eyespot bushfish breed?

The eyespot bushfish is a true Ctenopoma, a group that scatters free-floating eggs and gives no parental care. It has no established aquarium breeding record.

Related species