Leaffish data sheet
German name:
leaf fish
Scientific name:
Monocirrhus polyacanthus
Origin:
Amazon (Brazil)
Size:
Body length up to 10 cm
Aquarium
Length:
Length from 60 cm width
Contents:
from 100 liters
water values
Temperature:
22°-28° C
pH:
6 – 7
GH:
2° – 8° dH
Behave
Area:
lower and middle range
Lining:
Live food such as mosquito larvae and small fish
Behave:
predatory
Number:
in pairs or in a group of at least 6 animals
Difficulty level:
advanced
Monocirrhus polyacanthus – Leaffish WF – Image 1 | © Fishtopia GmbH
Monocirrhus polyacanthus – Leaffish WF – Image 2 | © Fishtopia GmbH
Leaffish Photo: Philippe Coulon
Leaffish, Monocirrhus polyacanthus, really do look like a wilted leaf. Photos reflect that poorly.
Leaffish sneak up on their food without discernible fin movement. They suck on a guppy from about 5 centimeters away. Eating is so fast that people hardly recognize the movement of the mouth. You only notice that suddenly the prey fish is gone. The enormously protruding mouth can only be observed when yawning.
Most of the literature says they eat about their own body weight per day. Experience shows that significantly less feed is required. Nevertheless, well-nourished leaf fish eat a few young guppies, small neon tetras or the like per day.
Monocirrhus polyacanthus – Leaffish Source: Image on Wikimedia Commons License: CC Attr. SA 2.5 Author: Opencage
However, there are indications that leaffish have problems when feeding aquarium fish, especially guppies, even if all other values are correct. When fed exclusively with native fish from ponds and frozen food, e.g. B. smelt, the leaf fish seem to stay healthy.
According to one report, guppies-fed leaffish repeatedly contracted worms. The treatment was difficult. Because even live mosquito larvae were ignored, the larvae could not be soaked in Concurat. Flubenol added to the water did not help.
Other fish that don’t fit in the mouth are ignored. Even Apistogramma females who are not just adolescents are ignored. However, leaf fish should not be socialized with overly aggressive other fish.
Leaffish are best kept in a species tank. 1 pair is kept in 100 liters of water.
Leaffish need very soft water.
leaf fish: