Ornate Ctenopoma (Microctenopoma ansorgii)

The Ornate Ctenopoma (Microctenopoma ansorgii) is a small African labyrinth fish with dramatic orange, black and red striping, a shy bushfish personality and a very different look from the common gouramis most aquarists know. It is also sold in older supplier and hobby lists as Ctenopoma ansorgei or Ctenopoma ansorgii, so those names are kept here as search and trade-name bridges, but the main listing now uses the accepted Microctenopoma ansorgii name.

This is the 3-4 cm size as supplied. Choose this fish if you want an unusual, colourful and watchable African anabantoid for a mature, calm, plant-heavy aquarium.

Quick facts

• Scientific name: Microctenopoma ansorgii; older trade name include Ctenopoma ansorgei and Ctenopoma ansorgii.
• Common names: Ornate Ctenopoma, Ornate Climbing Perch, Orange Ctenopoma, Rainbow Ctenopoma.
• Current size: 3-4 cm juvenile/subadult.
• Adult size: plan around 6-8 cm, depending on sex, condition and reference measurement.
• Care level: moderate; best for an aquarist who can provide calm water, cover and suitable foods.
• Temperament: shy and easily bullied, but males can be territorial with one another.
• Minimum aquarium: around 60 litres for a pair or small group; more space is better for groups or community layouts.
• Temperature: 25-28°C is the best practical target.
• Water: pH 6.0-8.0; soft to moderately hard water, kept stable.
• Diet: small live and frozen foods are strongly preferred; some settled fish accept fine prepared foods.
• Delivery: packed for specialist live-animal courier delivery with our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Why choose this species?

Ornate Ctenopoma is one of the most attractive small African labyrinth fish. Settled males can show dark vertical bars across the body with orange-red colour through the flanks and fins, while the rounded tail and combed dorsal outline give the fish a neat, compact bushfish profile. Young fish can look pale at first, so the page should not oversell instant colour; the pattern is best when the fish is settled, mature and kept under gentle conditions.

The appeal is behaviour as much as colour. This is not a frantic open-water community fish. It watches from plants, moves carefully through cover and becomes more confident when the aquarium feels secure. For keepers who enjoy subtle, natural behaviour, the species has far more character than its small size suggests.

Natural habitat and aquarium setup

FishBase places Microctenopoma ansorgii around the Chiloango River and central Congo basin, with possible Cameroon reports treated cautiously. Specialist aquarium references describe slow reaches with dense marginal vegetation. The best aquarium is therefore mature, warm, softly lit and full of cover rather than bare and bright.

Use a dark substrate if possible, then build broken sight lines with wood, roots, live plants and floating plants. Java fern, Anubias, Cryptocoryne, mosses and surface plants all suit the style of tank. Gentle filtration is better than a blasting current, and small regular water changes are safer than large swings. A tight lid is essential because labyrinth fish can jump and need access to a warm, humid layer of air above the surface.

Water and maintenance

A practical target is 25-28°C, pH 6.0-8.0 and low to moderate hardness. FishBase gives 26-28°C, pH 6.0-8.0 and 5-19 dH, while aquarium-care references allow a similar range when extremes are avoided. Stability matters more than chasing a perfect number. Avoid new, unstable aquariums, ammonia or nitrite, and sudden changes in temperature or hardness.

Because this fish is shy, stress can show as hiding, pale colour or missed feeds. Keep lighting diffused, provide cover at the surface and do not place it in a tank where boisterous fish dominate every meal.

Feeding

Ornate Ctenopoma is a small predator of aquatic invertebrates in nature. Offer small frozen or live foods such as bloodworm, white mosquito larvae, daphnia, brine shrimp, cyclops and tiny worms. Some individuals may learn to take fine granules or small soft prepared foods, but new arrivals should not be expected to thrive on dry food alone.

Feed small portions and watch the fish eat. In a busy tank, target feeding near cover can help shy individuals get enough food without being rushed by faster tank mates.

Compatibility

This is usually a specialist community fish rather than a rough-and-tumble community fish. Good companions are peaceful species that are not tiny enough to be eaten and not boisterous enough to bully it. Suitable choices can include calm rasboras, tetras of sensible size, hatchetfish, killifish, small peaceful catfish and gentle bottom dwellers with similar water needs.

Avoid fry, dwarf shrimp, very tiny fish, fin nippers, aggressive cichlids and fast feeders that turn every meal into a race. Males can show territorial aggression, especially around breeding, so groups need space, plants and visual barriers.

Breeding notes

Microctenopoma species differ from many larger Ctenopoma because males build and guard bubble nests. Breeding M. ansorgii is possible but not casual. Soft, slightly acidic water, surface cover, privacy and excellent small foods help. The male may build a small nest among floating vegetation, the eggs can hatch quickly, and fry need very small first foods plus warm air above the surface while the labyrinth organ develops.

Best buyer fit

This fish is best for a patient aquarist who wants a rare African labyrinth fish and is happy to design the tank around cover, food and low stress. It is not the right choice for a bare bright tank, a shrimp display, a newly cycled aquarium or a community full of pushy fish. In the right setup, though, it becomes a beautiful, quietly fascinating species.

Ordering from Tropical Fish Co

Your Ornate Ctenopoma is packed for live-animal transport and sent by tracked courier delivery. First-time customers can use WELCOME10 at checkout where eligible, and our Live Arrival Guarantee applies when the delivery and acclimation instructions are followed. Please make sure someone is available to receive the parcel, acclimate slowly, keep the lights low and give this shy fish time to settle.

FAQ

Is Ornate Ctenopoma the same as Ctenopoma ansorgei?

Yes for aquarium-trade purposes. The supplier name is Ctenopoma ansorgei, while current references commonly use Microctenopoma ansorgii. This listing uses the current name and keeps the older name as a helpful synonym.

How big does Ornate Ctenopoma get?

Plan around 6-8 cm as an adult. FishBase lists 5.4 cm standard length and an 8 cm total-length report, while aquarium references usually plan around 8 cm.

Can it live with small fish or shrimp?

Very tiny fish, fry and dwarf shrimp are risky. Choose calm tank mates that are not small enough to be swallowed and not pushy enough to outcompete it.

Does it need special food?

It does best when live or frozen foods form the core of the diet, especially during settling. Some individuals later accept fine prepared foods, but dried food should not be the only plan.