Amazon leaf fish

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Amazon and Orinoco River Basin (Peru, Brazil, Venezuela). Exclusive to very slow swamps and "Blackwater" rivers saturated with dead lianas, fallen trees and decaying plant debris.

Taxonomy and Morphology: South American Leaf Fish (Monocirrhus polyacanthus). Mimetic evolution par excellence. The body is flat, perfectly leaf-shaped; it even has a rigid barbel on the chin that simulates the "stalk" of a dead leaf.

Social Behavior: Immobile ambush predator. Spends entire weeks floating upside down (obliquely) imitating a dead leaf moved by the current, waiting for a small unaware fish to approach.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Perfect camouflage: dry leaf brown or ochraceous yellow, with black mottling mimicking plant necrosis. Can lighten or darken to blend in with the decor. Sexes are indistinguishable.

Aquarium Setup: Extreme leaf biotope (Species Tank 80 cm / 32 inches). Lighting reduced to zero, peat in the filter, dark tea-colored water. Bottom covered with catappa/oak leaves and intricate twigs in mid-water.

Diet and Feeding: Obligate piscivore (Lethal starvation 1). Will ALWAYS refuse any dry or dead feed (even if waved with tweezers). MUST be fed daily with live feeder fish (Guppies, Neons) or live ghost shrimp (Caridina) that fit entirely into its extensible tube mouth.

Water Quality: Very delicate (Lethal starvation 2). Requires very pure water while tolerating organic nitrates (but zero ammonia). The marked acidity (Ph 5.5-6.0) protects its skin lacking resistant scales from deadly fungal infections.

Compatibility and Tankmates: It is not a community fish. Must be alone or with other Leaf fish. Any fish under 4 cm (1.5 inches) will be inhaled. Any aggressive fish (or sucking pleco) will annoy it to death.

Aquarium Reproduction: The male and female mate depositing transparent eggs (up to 300) under a broad leaf of Nymphaea. The male fiercely guards the eggs by fanning them.

Risks and Diseases: The ethical/economic nightmare. This fish is the despair of unprepared aquarists: it literally starves to death if you do not provide it with a constant and expensive supply of LIVE small bait fish every single day.