Ctenopoma acutirostre tank mate

[Ben268]

I am acquiring a Ctenopoma Acutirostre in a week or so. Currently the tank has just one African Butteryfly fish and a bunch of cherry shrimp that I fully expect to disappear. I was looking at tank mates, and typical tank mates for this set up seem to include congo tetras or pictus catfish, which both seem a bit boring. I like knife fish and birchirs, but the tank would be to small for them (30 gallon).

Would a Crocodile fish (Luciocephalus pulcher or Luciocephalus Aura) work with a Ctenopoma? They seem to like similar water conditions. I thought of pike livebearers, but the african butteryfly fish doesn't like to share the top half of the tank, and they would require different water conditions anyway. I was also thinking a Nandus Nandus or South American leaf fish (Monocirrhus polyacanthus) While the size of these fish are a bit more appropriate, I'm worried about the Ctenopoma becoming territorial with them (like they do their own kind when they get older).

Any other ideas I'm open to them!

I noticed the other simliar threads, but since I had some questions about specific species I didn't want to hijack the other threads!

Thanks!

 

[Ben268]

If the crocodile fish would work temperment-wise, I would keep the tank with a pH of approx 6. As I understand it, that is at the lower end of what a Ctenopoma would like, and at the higher end of what a Crocodile fish would prefer,