Leaf Fishes

The South American leaf fish, Monocirrhus polyacanthus, is a predator from Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Colombia and Bolivia that mimics a dead leaf. It stalks prey head-down, appearing to drift like a leaf, and can swallow prey almost as big as itself. Flighty and very sensitive to deteriorating water quality, it is difficult to maintain and not a species for the beginner, and soft, acidic water is essential.

The African leaf fish, Polycentropsis abbreviata, is a predatory leaf fish from Nigeria, Benin, Cameroon and Gabon. Camouflaged to mimic a dead leaf, it stalks prey in a head-down stance and can swallow prey almost as big as itself. It is flighty and very sensitive to deteriorations in water quality, needs soft, acidic water and often accepts only live food. It is not recommended for the beginner.

The Malabar leaffish, Pristolepis marginata, is a nandid endemic to the Western Ghats of Kerala, India, and is also known as the common catopra. Unlike many other nandids it inhabits flowing water, from fast-moving streams and rivers to some whitewater areas. It reaches 15 cm, will swallow any tankmate small enough to eat and can be a little belligerent, so it is best kept with similarly sized or larger fish that also suit flowing water.