Home / Fishes / Gouramis, bettas, snakeheads / Ocellated labyrinth fish
No federal permit to keepOcellated labyrinth fish
Ctenopoma muriei
Fishes › Gouramis, bettas, snakeheads (Anabantiformes) › Anabantidae (Climbing perch and bush fish)
Care follows the gouramis and labyrinth fish guide below.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 2.4 in / 6 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 73–82°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 6–7.5.
- Hardness: 0–20 dGH.
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
- Diet: Eats a varied diet: mix quality prepared foods with frozen and live foods. FishBase classes it as a carnivore.
- Availability: Rarely or never seen in the aquarium trade; expect to source it from specialists or not at all.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 24 × 12 in (roughly 14 US gallons); space needed is rated “modest tank”.
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 75–82 °F, pH 6–7.5, 5–20 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament predatory.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “In nature, it commonly inhabits marginal areas where the vegetation is thickest, as this provides protection from predators.”
- Diet: “More omnivorous than many other species in the genus.”
- Tankmates: “It will eat any fish it can fit in its mouth, but this rules out only the tiniest species.”
- Breeding: “There are virtually no reports of this fish spawning in the hobby.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Gouramis and labyrinth fish
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Warm, still, vegetated waters. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Planted, calm tanks with floating plants; they breathe air at the surface, so leave a gap under the lid.
Diet
- Food acceptance is species-specific. Parosphromenus deissneri needs tiny live invertebrate foods and commonly refuses dried foods; a pellet/flake staple cannot cover every labyrinth fish.
Health watch
- Males are territorial; dwarf gourami iridovirus.
Understanding the animal
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater, in rivers and streams. Uses both the bottom and open water. Inhabits both temporary and permanent streams and swamps. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 73–82 °F (23–28 °C), pH 6–7.5, hardness 20 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: open water/substratum egg scatterers. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 73–82 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 85°F (up to 99°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 60°F (down to 50°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 69–80°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 66–75% on average (driest month about 60%) |
| Rainfall | about 1105 mm a year |
Measured at 73 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Reproduction | Produces 10-30 eggs during night time. — FishBase |
| Biology | Obligate air-breathing; Inhabits both temporary and permanent streams and swamps. Feeds on insect larvae and crustacea (, 12526 ). Juveniles are found in interstitial pools in papyrus. — FishBase |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as standard length (snout to the base of the tail, not counting the tail fin). Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
Water hardness
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 24 × 12 in (about 14 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional diseases of fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Seriously Fish — Parosphromenus deissneri Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
More climbing perch and bush fish
Cape kurper
Sandelia capensis
Aquarium hobby
Climbing perch
Anabas testudineus
Aquarium hobby
Leopard bush fish
Ctenopoma acutirostre
Aquarium hobby
Ornate ctenopoma
Microctenopoma ansorgii
Aquarium hobby
Tailspot ctenopoma
Ctenopoma kingsleyae
Aquarium hobby
Banded ctenopoma
Microctenopoma fasciolatum
Aquarium hobby