QUESTION ABOUT spotted ctenopoma/spotted perch/climbing perch/spotted climbing gourami/AFRICAN LEAF FISH?

Question

At petsmart, they sell "African leaf fish" (spotted ctenopoma, latin name ctenopoma acutirostre, and I bought five of them to go with my bala sharks. (Yes I know how big bala sharks can get don't worry I have a 100 gallon!) I was wondering, as these are members of the climbing perch/gourami family, (I know, that being anabantoids they can breath water from the surface) but can they actually climb out of water and breathe on land for short amounts of time like the other members of the climbing gourami family? If you are not sure what fish I am talking about, or what climbing gouramis are, go to these websites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anabas_testudineus

http://badmanstropicalfish.com/anabantids/spotted_climbing_perch1.jpg

Answer preferably out of experience but just knowledge of this fish works too. They sell them at PetSmart. I'LL GIVE you TEN POINTS if you can answer this question! Also, is there anything special I should know about this fish, or any tips you have in caring for them?

--Thanks

Answer 1

They will not leave the water intentionally, but they will certainly last longer than most other fish out of water.  They do breathe air, but they ARE reliant on their gills to some degree.   Also, even in a 100 gallon tank, I would watch to make sure none of the Ctenopoma are getting picked on, as they will establish considerable territories.  Really, a 100 gallon tank will likely be too small for a school of adult Bala Sharks (at 14" each), and a 6 foot tank will ultimately be necessary.