Tailspot climbing perch

Ctenopoma kingsleyae

Also known as Tailspot ctenopoma, Kingsley's ctenopoma, Tailspot bushfish

FreshwaterFish

Tailspot climbing perch (Ctenopoma kingsleyae) — Boulenger, George Albert, 1858-1937 · Public domain

Care at a glance

Temperature: 73–82°F (23–28°C)
pH: 6.0–8.0
Adult size: 7.9 in (20 cm)
Minimum tank: 66 gal (250 L)
Temperament: Aggressive
Social behavior: Solitary
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Hard
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Wide range across western and central Africa, from Senegal to the Congo, in varied slow waters.
Family: Anabantidae

Overview

This predatory fish needs a 250 litre tank at 23 to 28 C with a pH of 6.0 to 8.0, since it grows to about 20 cm and eats smaller fish. Feed meaty foods such as earthworms, prawns, mussel, and larger frozen items, as it rarely takes flake. Keep it only with fish too big to swallow, and expect it to be aggressive and territorial. Provide strong cover of wood and plants along with a tight lid, because it can jump and climb.

In the wild

Ranges across many West and Central African rivers, floodplains, and pools, adapting to a range of conditions. It is a mid-water ambush predator that lurks near cover waiting for prey. Its labyrinth organ lets it survive in warm, oxygen-poor water and even move over damp ground. Adults are large and powerful for a labyrinth fish.

Good to know

Ctenopoma kingsleyae is a member of the family Anabantidae and is one of the larger African climbing perches, reaching around 20 cm. It is an egg-scattering free spawner rather than a nest builder, unlike its Microctenopoma cousins. A dark spot at the base of the tail gives it the tailspot name.