FishFreshwaterIntermediate
©AI Generated·Proprietary
Ornate ctenopoma
Microctenopoma ansorgii
A rare, fascinating African labyrinth fish with a body crossed by alternating orange and blue-green vertical bars — one of the most ornate liveries among aquarium fish. Native to the Congo basin in Central Africa. Like all anabantids, it is a labyrinth breather: it needs humid air between the surface and the lid. A shy, nocturnal ambush predator: it camouflages among plants and driftwood waiting for prey. Almost always refuses dry food — live or frozen food diet mandatory. Bubble nest builder like Betta.
Water Temperature
22 - 26 °C
pH Value
5.5 - 7
Water type
Freshwater
Tank level
Bottom and middle
Adult size
8 cm
Minimum tank volume
>= 60 L
Minimum group
>= 2
GH
2 - 10 dGH
KH
1 - 5 dKH
TDS
40 - 200 ppm
Conductivity
63 - 313 uS/cm
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Congo River Basin (Democratic Republic of Congo). Prefers shaded oxbow lakes, very slow streams in the rainforest and stagnant marginal pools rich in tannins (Blackwater).
Taxonomy and Morphology: Ornate Ctenopoma (Microctenopoma ansorgii). Small Ctenopoma belonging to the order of Anabantiformes (equipped with labyrinth organ). Stocky and massive laterally compressed body, pointed snout to inspect crevices.
Social Behavior: Extremely cryptic and stealthy. Very timid by day, it moves slowly near the substrate exploring the cracks. Shows a moderately aggressive temperament only with conspecifics during the delimitation of the territory (small parades).
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: The African masterpiece: an uninterrupted succession of 6-7 broad fire orange and dark brown bands. Adult males have majestic fins (the tips form filaments) prolonged and margins finely edged in white. Females are washed out and rounder.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Aquarium Setup: Nano-tank or 80 cm (32 inches) species specific. Create real dark labyrinths: cut coconuts, intertwined bogwood, decaying catappa leaves and a heavy carpet of floating Duckweed to cancel the light.
Diet and Feeding: Demanding insectivorous micropredator. Rarely accepts flake feeds and will never go to the surface to feed. Mandatory to administer slow-sinking live or frozen foods (bloodworms, tubifex, brine shrimp, daphnia) directly in front of its den.
Water Quality: Peat filtration is fundamental (Pure Blackwater, pH 6.0-6.5). The water must absolutely not be moving; they hate the currents generated by mechanical filters which will exhaust them quickly.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Unsuitable for standard community tanks. Would be bullied or die of starvation because beaten to the punch by fast cyprinids or tetras. Pair only with equally shy, peaceful and slow fish (small African killifish or swamp gobies).
Aquarium Breeding: Underground bubble nester. Unlike the Betta, the male builds the bubble nest UNDER a shelter (a sunken leaf or in a narrow cave). Males take care of the floating eggs repelling the female (who must be removed).
Risks and Diseases: Lethal starvation. If kept in a brightly lit tank with lively companions, the M. ansorgii will never leave the den, not even to eat, letting itself die of starvation within a couple of weeks.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Congo River Basin (Democratic Republic of Congo). Prefers shaded oxbow lakes, very slow streams in the rainforest and stagnant marginal pools rich in tannins (Blackwater).
Origin
Africa and MadagascarEast Asia
Fish profile
- Temperament
- Territorial
- They possess a very shy, secretive, and deliberate temperament. They are not active swimmers but rather spend hours hovering motionless waiting for prey or hiding among plant leaves. Providing a heavily planted tank with low lighting will encourage them to emerge and display their best colors.
- Diet
- Carnivore
- They are strict micropredators in nature, feeding on insects, larvae, and small crustaceans. In captivity, they heavily favor live or frozen foods such as bloodworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp. They are notoriously picky eaters and may completely ignore dry flakes or pellets, at least initially.
- Life expectancy
- 4-5 years
- In a well-managed aquarium, the ornate ctenopoma has a lifespan of 4 to 5 years. Achieving this age requires excellent water conditions, a varied diet of live or frozen foods, and a low-stress environment with plenty of cover. Providing a tight-fitting lid is also important as they are capable jumpers and can easily escape the tank.
- Adult size
- 8 cm
- The catalog's scalar value is 8 cm. The FishBase SPECIES table (v25.04 snapshot) source reports a maximum adult measurement of 5.4 cm for this species, recorded as standard length (SL). The taxonomic record consulted is Microctenopoma ansorgii (v25.04); male or unsexed record. These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
- Sex ratio
- Pair
- They are generally peaceful towards each other, but males can become territorial during the breeding season. Keeping them in pairs or a small group is acceptable provided there is adequate space and visual barriers. In smaller tanks, keeping a single male is advisable to prevent territorial disputes.
- Feeding frequency
- Twice daily
- Feeding them once or twice a day with high-quality meaty foods is ideal. Due to their slow, deliberate hunting style, they can easily be outcompeted by faster, more aggressive feeders. Care must be taken to ensure food reaches them, sometimes necessitating targeted feeding with tongs or a pipette.
- Bioload
- Low
- The Ornate Ctenopoma has a relatively low bioload compared to larger predatory fish. They are small and generally inactive, meaning they produce less waste. Standard efficient filtration combined with regular maintenance schedules is perfectly sufficient to keep their water parameters pristine.
- Flow
- Strong
- They strongly prefer slow-moving or nearly stagnant water, mimicking the quiet, heavily vegetated streams of their native habitat. Strong currents will stress them out and exhaust them rapidly. Utilizing spray bars or sponge filters is an excellent way to minimize water turbulence.
- Jump risk
- Yes
- Like many labyrinth fish, they have the ability to jump, especially if startled or if water conditions deteriorate. Because they need to breathe atmospheric air from the surface, a tight-fitting lid is essential. Ensuring there is a gap between the water surface and the lid is critical for their breathing.
- Reproduction
- Bubble nest builder
- They are bubblenest builders, a trait common among many Anabantoids. The male constructs a nest of bubbles at the surface among floating plants and courts the female. After spawning, the male assumes all parental duties, guarding the nest aggressively until the fry become free-swimming.
- Compatibility & tankmates
- Peaceful
- They are peaceful but highly predatory towards anything small enough to fit in their mouths. They should be kept with peaceful fish of a similar or slightly larger size, such as medium-sized tetras or peaceful dwarf cichlids. Avoid keeping them with aggressive fin-nippers or very small nano fish that could become prey.
- Tank level
- Middle/Bottom
- They spend most of their time lurking in the middle and lower levels among dense vegetation. They are stealthy ambush predators that rely on cover and will rarely swim in open water. They do make occasional trips to the surface to take gulps of atmospheric air.
Scientific Parameters & Models
FishBase
Window to the official scientific data of the species
Data synced on: 06/15/2026
- Trophic level
- 3.2 ± 0.4 se
- Resilience
- High (less than 15 months)
- Phylogenetic uniqueness (PD50)
- 0.5002
- Bayesian Length-Weight
- a = 0.01778, b = 2.98
- VulnerabilityLow vulnerability (10 / 100)
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
Related species
Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.
