CACAdmin
Sep 7th 2008, 10:06 PM
Monocirrhus polyacanthus
(Barbeled Leaf Fish)
http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/jb_images/leaf-fish.jpg
Common name(s): South American Leaf fish, Barbeled Leaf Fish, Amazon Leaf Fish
Scientific name: Monocirrhus polyacanthus
Family: Polycentridae
Origin: South American Rivers: Amazon and Rio Negro
Adult size: Approx. 3 in.
Tank SpecsMinimum Tank Size:25 gallons
Water Parameters: Soft, acidic water. I keep my pH around 6.5
Temperature: Recommendations seem to vary within a large range (22C-28C). I find mine do quite fine in a tank without a heater (thus at room temps).
Special Requirements: Densely planted tank with lots of floating plant. In my tank I have a fair bit of driftwood, some stem plants, hornwort (floating) and water lettuce.
Suitable Tankmates: None are really recommended as these fish are predators and will eat anything which will fit in their mouths. (Their mouths are very large, being approx. 1/3 their body size and shaped much like that of a pelican with a pouch area to hold a larger fish as they attempt to swallow it.) Aggressive fish and other predators are not recommended as leaf fish as non-aggressive. The one species I have found seems to be compatible is the Bristlenose pleco (adult, of course, to ensure it is not on the menu).Minimum Group Size: One
Diet: Live fish. They will take nothing other than live food and although I have read that they sometimes (when young) eat worms or brine shrimp, mine so far are unwilling to do so.
Sexing: In breeding season, female become thicker (with eggs) and supposedly possible at this time to see the ovipositor
Breeding and Reproduction: Egg Layer
Special Notes: Leaf fish hang very still, head down in the water when hunting their prey. They drift around the tank mimicking a dead leaf.T hey also have a fantastic ability to camouflage themselves. They can change their color (from cream to chocolate and all ranges in between). They can do this quite quickly and effectively to mimic the background color, whether it the be underside of a leaf, or a piece of wood. Attached are photos showing some of the range of color and pattern camouflage of my fish.
(Barbeled Leaf Fish)
http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/jb_images/leaf-fish.jpg
Common name(s): South American Leaf fish, Barbeled Leaf Fish, Amazon Leaf Fish
Scientific name: Monocirrhus polyacanthus
Family: Polycentridae
Origin: South American Rivers: Amazon and Rio Negro
Adult size: Approx. 3 in.
Tank SpecsMinimum Tank Size:25 gallons
Water Parameters: Soft, acidic water. I keep my pH around 6.5
Temperature: Recommendations seem to vary within a large range (22C-28C). I find mine do quite fine in a tank without a heater (thus at room temps).
Special Requirements: Densely planted tank with lots of floating plant. In my tank I have a fair bit of driftwood, some stem plants, hornwort (floating) and water lettuce.
Suitable Tankmates: None are really recommended as these fish are predators and will eat anything which will fit in their mouths. (Their mouths are very large, being approx. 1/3 their body size and shaped much like that of a pelican with a pouch area to hold a larger fish as they attempt to swallow it.) Aggressive fish and other predators are not recommended as leaf fish as non-aggressive. The one species I have found seems to be compatible is the Bristlenose pleco (adult, of course, to ensure it is not on the menu).Minimum Group Size: One
Diet: Live fish. They will take nothing other than live food and although I have read that they sometimes (when young) eat worms or brine shrimp, mine so far are unwilling to do so.
Sexing: In breeding season, female become thicker (with eggs) and supposedly possible at this time to see the ovipositor
Breeding and Reproduction: Egg Layer
Special Notes: Leaf fish hang very still, head down in the water when hunting their prey. They drift around the tank mimicking a dead leaf.T hey also have a fantastic ability to camouflage themselves. They can change their color (from cream to chocolate and all ranges in between). They can do this quite quickly and effectively to mimic the background color, whether it the be underside of a leaf, or a piece of wood. Attached are photos showing some of the range of color and pattern camouflage of my fish.