African Leopard Leaf Fish - (Ctenopoma Acutirostre)

Fish Details, Description and Information Below:

🐆 African Leopard Leaf Fish – (Ctenopoma acutirostre) – Congo Basin Ambush Predator

The African Leopard Leaf Fish (Ctenopoma acutirostre), also commonly called the Leopard Bushfish, Leopard Ctenopoma, Spotted Ctenopoma, or Spotted Climbing Perch, is an unusual Central African labyrinth fish famous for its leopard-like pattern, large eyes, leaf-like camouflage, and patient ambush-predator behavior.

Rather than actively chasing prey throughout the aquarium, this species often remains nearly motionless among:

Plants
Roots
Driftwood
Shadows
Floating vegetation

waiting for a smaller fish, shrimp, insect, or other food item to move within striking distance.

Its mottled cream, tan, brown, olive, and black pattern allows it to blend remarkably well with aquatic vegetation and submerged structure.

One of the most important things customers should understand is that the Leopard Leaf Fish has a:

SURPRISINGLY LARGE, EXTENDABLE MOUTH

A tankmate that appears reasonably large may still be swallowed if the Leopard Leaf Fish can fit it into its mouth.

🔎 Quick Facts – African Leopard Leaf Fish

📛 Common Name: African Leopard Leaf Fish
📛 Other Names: Leopard Bushfish, Leopard Ctenopoma, Spotted Ctenopoma, Spotted Climbing Perch
🔬 Scientific Name: Ctenopoma acutirostre
📅 Described: 1899
🐟 Family: Anabantidae
🧬 Group: Labyrinth / Air-Breathing Fish
🌎 Origin: Central Africa
🌊 Native Drainage: Congo River Basin
🇨🇫 Native Country: Central African Republic
🇨🇬 Native Country: Republic of the Congo
🇨🇩 Native Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo
💧 Water Type: Freshwater
📏 Scientific Maximum: Approximately 15 cm / 6 inches total length
🏠 Recommended Aquarium: 55 gallons or larger
👥 Multiple Adults: 75+ gallons with substantial cover preferred
🌡️ Temperature: Approximately 73–82°F
💧 pH: Approximately 6.0–8.0
💦 Hardness: Approximately 5–12 dGH
🌊 Water Movement: Low to Moderate
💨 Surface Access: Essential
🌿 Cover: Dense plants, floating plants, roots and driftwood strongly recommended
🍽️ Diet: Carnivore / Ambush Predator
🦐 Primary Foods: Invertebrate and animal-based foods
🐟 Small Fish: May be eaten
🦐 Small Shrimp: May be eaten
😌 Temperament: Generally calm toward fish too large to swallow
⚠️ Predatory: Yes
⚠️ Conspecific Behavior: Territorial behavior can occur
🌙 Activity: Crepuscular / nocturnal
🫁 Air Breathing: Yes
🥚 Breeding: Captive breeding documented but uncommon
🫧 Bubble Nest: Reports are inconsistent
👶 Parental Care: No dependable parental care
⭐ Care Level: Intermediate
🌎 IUCN Status: Least Concern

🧬 Valid Scientific Species

The currently accepted scientific name is:

Ctenopoma acutirostre

The species was described by:

Jacques Pellegrin in 1899

and remains recognized as a valid member of the:

ANABANTIDAE

family.

For this product, use:

**African Leopard Leaf Fish – (Ctenopoma acutirostre)**

⚠️ Capitalization of the Scientific Name

The correct scientific spelling is:

Ctenopoma acutirostre

not:

Ctenopoma Acutirostre

In scientific names:

Genus: Capitalized
Species: Lowercase

🌎 Important Origin Correction

The older listing describes this species as originating from:

Central & West Africa

That is too broad.

The better description is:

CENTRAL AFRICA – CONGO RIVER BASIN

Confirmed distribution includes portions of the:

Middle Congo River Basin
Lower Congo River
Ubangi system
Kasai system
Kwilu
Itimbiri
Ruki drainage
Pool Malebo region

🇨🇫 🇨🇬 🇨🇩 Native Countries

Scientifically documented native range includes:

Central African Republic
Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo

This is fundamentally a:

CONGO BASIN SPECIES

📍 Type Locality

The original scientific type locality is:

DIÉLÉ

in what was historically referred to as:

FRENCH CONGO

The modern range is much broader throughout portions of the Congo River system.

🐆 Leopard Pattern

The most recognizable characteristic of Ctenopoma acutirostre is its elaborate camouflage.

Body coloration may include:

Cream
Beige
Tan
Gold-brown
Olive
Gray-brown

covered with:

Dark brown spots
Black blotches
Irregular rings
Broken markings

🎨 Individual Pattern Variation

No two fish necessarily develop exactly the same:

Spot arrangement
Background color
Amount of brown
Amount of gold
Darkness

Appearance can also change with:

Lighting
Stress
Aquarium background
Age
Mood
Water quality

👁️ Large Eyes

The Leopard Leaf Fish has noticeably:

LARGE EYES

that suit its crepuscular and ambush-oriented lifestyle.

These help the fish detect prey while moving through:

Shaded vegetation
Dark water
Submerged roots
Dimly lit habitats

🍂 Leaf-Like Camouflage

The fish's laterally compressed body and irregular pattern allow it to resemble:

A dead leaf
Bark
Vegetation
Shadowed wood

while remaining almost perfectly still.

This camouflage allows the fish to approach prey without immediately being recognized as a predator.

🎯 Ambush Predator

The African Leopard Leaf Fish is not normally a high-speed pursuit predator.

Instead, it uses:

STEALTH + PATIENCE + CAMOUFLAGE

It may:

Remain motionless.
Slowly drift toward prey.
Position itself at close range.
Suddenly extend its mouth.
Swallow the prey in a rapid strike.

😮 Surprisingly Large Mouth

One of the biggest mistakes when selecting tankmates is judging prey size by the Leopard Leaf Fish's body width.

Its mouth can open:

MUCH WIDER THAN MANY OWNERS EXPECT

Therefore:

IF A FISH CAN FIT INTO ITS MOUTH, IT MAY EVENTUALLY BECOME FOOD.

📏 Adult Size

FishBase documents a maximum size of:

15 CM TOTAL LENGTH

or approximately:

6 INCHES

For permanent aquarium planning:

EXPECT APPROXIMATELY 5–6 INCHES

for a mature specimen.

⚠️ Do Not Exaggerate Adult Size

Some aquarium websites report:

7 inches
8 inches
Occasionally larger

However, the established scientific reference gives:

15 CM / APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES TOTAL LENGTH

Therefore, approximately:

5–6 INCHES

is the most defensible adult planning size.

🏠 Aquarium Size

The previous listing recommends:

40 GALLONS

I would increase the permanent recommendation to:

55 GALLONS OR LARGER

for an adult.

The additional space allows for:

Dense cover
Territory
Proper tankmates
Open hunting areas
Stable water quality

👥 Multiple Leopard Leaf Fish

Multiple specimens may sometimes be maintained together, particularly when:

Raised together
Introduced simultaneously
Provided substantial cover
Given sufficient territory

However:

ADULT TERRITORIAL BEHAVIOR CAN OCCUR

For multiple mature specimens:

75+ GALLONS

with extensive structure is a safer starting point.

📐 Aquarium Footprint

This is not an especially frantic swimmer.

The aquarium should prioritize:

Horizontal swimming space
Plant cover
Shelter
Territories

rather than extreme aquarium height.

🌿 Dense Cover Is Important

The African Leopard Leaf Fish feels most secure in an aquarium containing:

Live plants
Artificial plants
Tall vegetation
Floating plants
Driftwood
Roots
Branches
Rock shelters

A completely open, brightly lit aquarium can leave the fish feeling exposed.

🌱 Floating Plants

Floating vegetation is especially useful.

It provides:

Shade
Security
Reduced light intensity
Natural hunting cover
Surface structure

Suitable floating cover can create a much more natural environment.

🌑 Subdued Lighting

Bright aquarium lighting is usually unnecessary.

The species generally appreciates:

SUBDUED OR PARTIALLY SHADED LIGHTING

A combination of:

Floating plants
Driftwood
Tall plants

can produce the shaded areas the fish prefers.

🪵 Driftwood & Roots

Driftwood can provide:

Shelter
Territorial boundaries
Ambush positions
Shaded resting areas
Natural appearance

Complex branch and root structures are especially useful.

🍂 Leaf Litter

Aquarium-safe leaf litter can also be used to create a natural Congo-style environment.

Leaf litter provides:

Visual cover
Darker substrate
Natural structure
Microhabitats

Make sure decomposing organic material does not overwhelm the filtration system.

🌊 Water Movement

The African Leopard Leaf Fish does not require:

HIGH-VELOCITY CURRENT

A better environment provides:

LOW TO MODERATE WATER MOVEMENT

with good overall water quality.

Avoid positioning the fish where it must constantly fight a powerful current.

💧 Water Parameters

A practical long-term range is:

🌡️ Temperature: Approximately 73–82°F
💧 pH: Approximately 6.0–8.0
💦 Hardness: Approximately 5–12 dGH
🌊 Water Movement: Low to Moderate
☠️ Ammonia: 0 ppm
☠️ Nitrite: 0 ppm
🔄 Nitrate: Keep reasonably low

⚠️ pH Is More Flexible Than the Older Listing

The previous page uses:

pH 6.0–7.0

FishBase gives a broader documented range of approximately:

pH 6.0–8.0

The fish therefore does not require extremely acidic water.

Stable conditions are more important than constantly attempting to adjust the pH.

🌡️ Temperature

A practical captive range is:

73–82°F

The species can tolerate a reasonably broad tropical temperature range.

For routine maintenance, approximately:

75–80°F

works well in many aquariums.

🫁 Air-Breathing Labyrinth Fish

One of the most fascinating features of Ctenopoma acutirostre is its ability to:

BREATHE ATMOSPHERIC AIR

It belongs to the same broad labyrinth-fish group that includes:

Gouramis
Bettas
Climbing perches

🧠 Labyrinth Organ

The fish possesses a specialized:

LABYRINTH ORGAN

that allows it to obtain oxygen from air at the water's surface.

You may occasionally see the fish:

Swim toward the surface.
Take a gulp of air.
Return to its territory.

This is normal behavior.

🚨 Surface Access Must Remain Open

Because it breathes atmospheric air:

DO NOT COMPLETELY BLOCK ACCESS TO THE WATER SURFACE

Floating plants are excellent, but there should always be open spaces where the fish can reach air.

⚠️ Air Breathing Does Not Mean Dirty Water Is Acceptable

The ability to breathe atmospheric oxygen does not mean this species should be kept in:

Dirty water
High ammonia
High nitrite
Excessive nitrate
Poorly maintained aquariums

Maintain:

CLEAN, STABLE WATER

at all times.

🪟 Use a Secure Aquarium Cover

A secure lid is strongly recommended.

Labyrinth fish can occasionally:

JUMP

particularly when:

Startled
Chased
Newly introduced

A fitted aquarium cover also helps maintain a warmer, humid layer of air above the water.

🍽️ Diet – Carnivorous Ambush Predator

The African Leopard Leaf Fish is primarily:

CARNIVOROUS

Its natural feeding behavior focuses on:

Small fish
Aquatic insects
Insect larvae
Crustaceans
Other small aquatic animals

🦐 Recommended Aquarium Foods

Excellent foods include:

Mysis shrimp
Krill
Bloodworms
Brine shrimp
Earthworms
Chopped shrimp
Chopped prawn
Insect larvae
Appropriate frozen carnivore foods
Quality carnivore pellets

🪱 Earthworms

Properly sourced earthworms can be an excellent food.

Depending on fish size, worms can be:

Offered whole
Cut into appropriately sized pieces

Avoid collecting worms from areas that may have been exposed to:

Pesticides
Herbicides
Chemicals

🦐 Shrimp & Prawn

Chopped:

Shrimp
Prawn
Krill

can provide excellent animal protein.

Use appropriately sized pieces that can be swallowed safely.

🧊 Frozen Foods

Many Leopard Leaf Fish readily accept frozen foods once acclimated.

Useful options include:

Mysis
Bloodworms
Krill
Brine shrimp
Other quality frozen carnivore foods

🟤 Prepared Foods

Some specimens can be trained to accept:

Floating carnivore pellets
Slow-sinking carnivore pellets
Other quality prepared foods

However:

NOT EVERY INDIVIDUAL ACCEPTS DRY FOODS IMMEDIATELY

🍽️ Transitioning to Prepared Food

New fish may initially recognize only moving or frozen foods.

A gradual transition can involve:

Feeding familiar frozen foods.
Introducing pellets at the same time.
Allowing the fish to associate prepared food with feeding.
Gradually reducing dependence on live foods.

🚫 Avoid Routine Feeder Fish

There is no need to use feeder fish as the staple diet.

Feeder fish can introduce:

Parasites
Bacteria
Disease
Poor nutritional balance

Safer alternatives include:

Frozen foods
Shrimp
Earthworms
Insect foods
Quality carnivore pellets

🦐 Small Shrimp Are Potential Food

Do not assume ornamental shrimp are safe.

Small:

Neocaridina
Ghost shrimp
Other dwarf shrimp

may be hunted and eaten.

🐟 Small Fish Are Potential Food

Avoid tankmates such as:

Neon-sized tetras
Small rasboras
Guppy fry
Endler-sized fish
Small livebearers
Very small barbs

An adult Leopard Leaf Fish may view them as:

PREY

rather than tankmates.

😌 Temperament – Predator Does Not Mean Hyper-Aggressive

The current listing describes the fish as:

TERRITORIAL AND PREDATORY

which is partly correct.

However, the Leopard Leaf Fish is generally:

MUCH MORE PREDATORY THAN AGGRESSIVE

toward unrelated fish.

It often ignores peaceful fish that are:

TOO LARGE TO SWALLOW

🐠 Suitable Tankmates

Possible tankmates include appropriately sized, peaceful species such as:

Larger Congo tetras
Medium-sized peaceful African fish
Larger peaceful barbs
Peaceful gouramis
Medium-sized catfish
Larger Corydoras where temperature overlaps
Appropriate plecos
Other calm fish too large to swallow

⚠️ Tankmate Size Matters More Than Length Alone

A long but extremely slender fish may still be swallowed.

When choosing tankmates, consider:

Body depth
Body width
Mouth size of the Leopard Leaf Fish

not simply the tankmate's length.

🚫 Avoid Very Aggressive Cichlids

Large aggressive cichlids are generally poor companions.

They may:

Harass the Leopard Leaf Fish
Injure it
Outcompete it for food
Prevent it from using preferred shelter

This fish is a stealth predator, not a bruiser.

🚫 Avoid Hyperactive Food Competitors

Fast, aggressive feeders can cause problems because the Leopard Leaf Fish often feeds:

DELIBERATELY

rather than charging into a feeding frenzy.

Make sure each fish receives enough food.

🌙 Crepuscular / Nocturnal Behavior

Activity often increases:

At dusk
During dim lighting
At night
Around feeding time

Its large eyes and camouflage are well suited to hunting under lower light conditions.

☀️ Daytime Behavior

During the day, the fish may:

Hover beneath plants
Rest near driftwood
Remain almost motionless
Slowly patrol shaded areas

A motionless Leopard Leaf Fish is not necessarily sick.

Remaining still is part of its normal hunting strategy.

🎯 Fascinating Hunting Behavior

One of the most interesting things about keeping this species is watching it slowly:

Angle its body
Drift toward prey
Hide behind vegetation
Remain motionless
Strike suddenly

Its hunting strategy can make the fish appear more like:

A FLOATING LEAF

than an active predator.

♂️ Male vs. Female

Sexing the African Leopard Leaf Fish is:

DIFFICULT

especially in juveniles.

♂️ Mature Males

Mature males have been reported to develop:

SMALL SPINES / SERRATIONS AROUND THE GILL COVER

that may be more noticeable than in females.

Some reports also describe differences in texture near the caudal region.

♀️ Mature Females

Females may develop:

Fuller abdominal shape when carrying eggs

but body shape alone is not a dependable method of sexing.

⚠️ Sell as Unsexed

Unless a mature fish has been confidently examined:

SELL AS UNSEXED

Color and leopard pattern do not reliably indicate sex.

🥚 Captive Breeding – Documented but Uncommon

The African Leopard Leaf Fish has:

BEEN BRED IN CAPTIVITY

but successful reproduction remains relatively uncommon.

This is not generally considered an easy breeding species.

⚠️ Bubble Nest Information Is Conflicting

Many aquarium guides state that Ctenopoma acutirostre:

BUILDS A BUBBLE NEST

However, other detailed breeding accounts describe it primarily as:

AN EGG-SCATTERING SURFACE SPAWNER

with buoyant eggs and only occasional reports of a small bubble nest.

Therefore, I would not present elaborate bubble-nest construction as an absolute species fact.

🫧 Safest Breeding Description

The most accurate wording is:

CAPTIVE SPAWNING IS DOCUMENTED, WITH EGGS RELEASED NEAR THE SURFACE; SOME SPAWNS HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH A SMALL BUBBLE NEST.

This reflects the uncertainty in the available breeding literature.

🌿 Breeding Setup

Successful breeding attempts generally use:

Large aquarium
Warm water
Soft water
Slightly acidic conditions
Floating plants
Dense vegetation
Calm environment

Floating plants can provide cover for buoyant eggs.

💕 Spawning

During spawning, adults may:

Pair temporarily
Move near the surface
Circle or embrace
Release eggs and sperm into the water

The fertilized eggs are:

BUOYANT

and move toward the surface vegetation.

🚫 No Dependable Parental Care

Unlike some gouramis and bettas:

DO NOT RELY ON THE ADULTS TO PROTECT THE EGGS OR FRY

Adults may consume:

Eggs
Newly hatched fry

For serious breeding attempts, separating the adults after spawning is generally safer.

🐣 Fry

The fry are:

EXTREMELY SMALL

when they begin feeding.

First foods may include:

Infusoria
Rotifers
Other microscopic live foods

followed later by:

Newly hatched brine shrimp
Larger live fry foods

⚠️ Raising Fry Is Difficult

Even when adults spawn successfully:

FRY SURVIVAL CAN BE LOW

This is one reason captive breeding remains uncommon.

Maintaining extremely small fry requires:

Appropriate microscopic food
Excellent water quality
Stable temperature
Gentle filtration
Careful husbandry

🫁 Developing Labyrinth Fish Fry

A warm, humid air layer above the breeding aquarium can be helpful as young labyrinth fish develop their air-breathing structures.

Use a:

SECURE COVER

while still maintaining appropriate ventilation and water quality.

🌎 Conservation Status

Ctenopoma acutirostre is currently classified as:

LEAST CONCERN

on the IUCN Red List.

The assessment cited by FishBase dates to:

2009

and remains the status shown in the current FishBase/IUCN dataset.

📜 CITES

Ctenopoma acutirostre is:

NOT CURRENTLY LISTED BY CITES

according to FishBase's current species information.

⭐ Why Keep an African Leopard Leaf Fish?

The African Leopard Leaf Fish combines:

🐆 Beautiful leopard camouflage
🍂 Leaf-like hunting behavior
👁️ Large watchful eyes
🎯 Fascinating ambush-predator behavior
🫁 Atmospheric air breathing
🌿 Excellent planted-aquarium appearance
🌎 Congo Basin origin
📏 Manageable approximately 6-inch adult size
😌 Relatively calm behavior toward non-prey fish
🌙 Interesting nighttime activity

into one of the most distinctive African freshwater predators available to aquarium keepers.

⚠️ Important Considerations

Before purchasing an African Leopard Leaf Fish:

The correct scientific name is Ctenopoma acutirostre.
The species was formally described in 1899.
It belongs to the family Anabantidae.
It is an air-breathing labyrinth fish.
Always leave access to atmospheric air.
The species is native to the Congo River Basin of Central Africa.
Remove the older “Central & West Africa” wording.
Scientific records include the Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, and Democratic Republic of the Congo.
FishBase documents approximately 15 cm / 6 inches maximum total length.
Plan for approximately 5–6 inches as an adult.
Provide approximately 55 gallons or larger for permanent housing.
Use larger aquariums for multiple adults.
Provide dense vegetation and substantial cover.
Floating plants are strongly recommended.
Keep lighting subdued or provide shaded areas.
Provide low to moderate water movement.
Maintain approximately 73–82°F.
Maintain approximately pH 6.0–8.0.
Maintain ammonia and nitrite at zero.
Provide a secure aquarium lid.
This is a carnivorous ambush predator.
Feed meaty frozen, fresh, live, and quality prepared foods.
Avoid relying on feeder fish.
Small fish may be eaten.
Small shrimp may be eaten.
Choose peaceful tankmates that are clearly too large to swallow.
Species-only housing is not automatically necessary.
Avoid very aggressive cichlids and hyperactive food competitors.
Sexing is difficult.
Mature males may develop small spines around the gill covers.
Sell unsexed unless confidently identified.
Captive breeding has been documented.
Breeding remains uncommon.
Reports regarding bubble-nest construction are inconsistent.
Do not state that L201-style cave spawning or strong parental care occurs—this is a completely different reproductive strategy.
Adults should not be relied upon to protect eggs or fry.
The species is currently Least Concern.
Never release aquarium fish into natural waterways.

🧬 Taxonomy

The currently accepted scientific name is:

Ctenopoma acutirostre Pellegrin, 1899

Classification:

Order: Anabantiformes
Family: Anabantidae
Genus: Ctenopoma
Species: acutirostre

Native range:

CONGO RIVER BASIN – CENTRAL AFRICA

For this product, use:

**African Leopard Leaf Fish – (Ctenopoma acutirostre)**

🫁 Labyrinth-Fish Disclaimer

The African Leopard Leaf Fish is an air-breathing member of the family Anabantidae.

It requires:

UNOBSTRUCTED ACCESS TO THE WATER SURFACE

Floating plants should not completely cover the aquarium.

A secure cover is recommended because the species may jump when frightened.

Its ability to breathe atmospheric air does not reduce the need for:

Clean water
Proper filtration
Regular water changes

🐟 Predator Disclaimer

The African Leopard Leaf Fish is an:

AMBUSH PREDATOR

Any fish, shrimp, or other aquatic animal small enough to fit into its mouth may be viewed as prey.

Tankmate compatibility cannot be determined by temperament alone.

Always consider:

Adult size
Body depth
Mouth size
Feeding behavior

before combining species.

🚚 Live Fish Shipping

Live fish are professionally packed for safe transport.

Shipping availability depends on:

Fish size
Destination
Weather conditions
Carrier availability
Applicable state and local regulations

Please review our Shipping & Payment Information and Live Arrival Guarantee / DOA Policy before ordering.

⚠️ Buyer Responsibility

Customers are responsible for confirming that Ctenopoma acutirostre may legally be purchased, possessed, transported, and received in their state or local jurisdiction before ordering.

Never release aquarium fish into natural waterways.