Can Cutteri Cichlid and Leopard Bushfish (Ctenopoma) Live Together?

Cutteri Cichlid is a semi-aggressive species (7/10), while Leopard Bushfish (Ctenopoma) is generally mild-mannered (4/10). This modest difference means Cutteri Cichlid may occasionally assert dominance over Leopard Bushfish (Ctenopoma).

Cutteri Cichlid and Leopard Bushfish (Ctenopoma) both frequent the Middle (Open Water) and Bottom (Substrate) region of the setup. This overlap can increase competition for space, so providing ample room and cover is important to keep both species comfortable.

Worth noting: Leopard Bushfish (Ctenopoma) is nocturnal and will be most active after lights-out, naturally reducing daytime encounters.

To improve the chances of a peaceful coexistence in this community tank: Provide a significantly larger tank (at least 50% more volume than the minimum) to allow both Cutteri Cichlid and Leopard Bushfish (Ctenopoma) to establish separate territories. Add plenty of line-of-sight breaks using driftwood, rocks, and dense planting to reduce territorial confrontations.

The safe temperature window for both species falls between 23°C and 28°C. Aim for the midpoint of this range (around 25.5°C) for optimal comfort.

Both fish can tolerate a pH between 7 and 7.5. Maintaining a stable value within this band is more important than hitting an exact number.

For general hardness, the shared comfort zone is 8–15 dGH. Regular testing will ensure conditions stay within this range.

To house Cutteri Cichlid and Leopard Bushfish (Ctenopoma) together, plan for an aquarium of at least 114 litres with a minimum length of 90 cm. This recommendation combines the stricter species minimums with a community-load allowance so the pairing has realistic long-term space and filtration headroom.

Because this pairing requires extra vigilance, include plenty of hiding spots — caves, driftwood, and dense plant clusters — so the less dominant fish can retreat when needed.

Specific environmental needs for this combination include: Sand (Sifters), Smooth Gravel (Sensitive Barbels), Driftwood (Digestion/Hiding), Plants - Densely covered, Plants - Floating, Leaf Litter/Blackwater. Meeting these requirements will help both species thrive.

Note a potential conflict in setup requirements: Cutteri Cichlid is a plant destroyer, which conflicts with Leopard Bushfish (Ctenopoma)'s requirement for live plants. Compromise where possible or prioritise the more critical need.

Both species do well with moderate (standard) water movement, so a standard filtration setup rated for the tank volume should suffice.

This pairing usually fails when the tank is treated like a standard mixed community and the caution flags are ignored. Cutteri Cichlid and Leopard Bushfish (Ctenopoma) need extra room, more cover, and closer observation during the first few weeks so small aggression, feeding, or territory issues do not snowball into a long-term problem.