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Etymology: argentoventer, with silvery ventral side. (only seen in juveniles).

Synonyms: Anabas argentoventer, Anabas argentivomer

Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) Order: Perciformes Family: Anabantidae (Climbing gouramies)

First European import: Germany, 1912

Description: Dark brown fish, with yellowish brown spots. A black blotch at the caudal base. Body shape similar to C. maculatum and C. acutirostre.

Care: Ctenopoma argentoventer requires larger tanks, with densely planted zones. The fish are somewhat aggressive, and are best kept with larger tankmates. In the wild the fish occur together with Ctenopoma kingsleyae, which would be a suitable companion. The fish are best kept in soft water, with lots of current, and frequent waterchanges. Cover the tank well, since the fish are good and accurate jumpers.

Temperature: 23-28 °C

Feeding: Omnivorous, all food is accepted.

Size: Up to 15 cm.

pH: 6.0-7.0

Breeding: Freespawner, has been bred in aquaria. Trigger seems to be large waterchanges that completely change the waterchemistry(for the better). The over 1000 eggs hatch in around 2 days, and are free swimming two days later.

Sexual dimorphism: Unknown. Probably males can be istinguished from the females by the number of ctenoids on the gill covers.

Prices: Unknown

Additional: Seldom imported.

Picture references: No picture available.

References

Linke, H.(1980): Labyrinthfische - Farbe im Aquarium. Tetra Verlag, Melle, Germany.

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