Monocirrhus polyacanthus (Leaf Fish)

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Laterally compressed, leaf-like fish with a mottled coloration and a large mouth. A short "stalk" at the end of the mouth and a passive, head-downwards mode of swimming completes the illusion, allowing these fish to hide among dead leaves until such time as they choose to swallow their prey.

Fish information (behaviour and breeding):

These fish are stealth predators and tend to hunt at dusk and dawn. They are not difficult to keep, but are very nervous, and are best kept in a single species aquarium or with larger but very gentle tankmates. Besides small fish, they will eat invertebrates of suitable size, in particular mosquito larvae and bloodworms.

Breeding occurs in soft, acid water. A pair will clean a suitable surface such as a stone or large leaf, and then once the eggs are laid, the male will guard them. The female should then be removed. The eggs hatch after four days, at which point they will eat newly hatched brine shrimps and other small live foods.