Leaf scorpionfish
Taenianotus triacanthus
Also known as Leaf fish, Paper fish, Paperfish, Sailfin leaf fish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–79°F (22–26°C)
- pH
- 8.0–8.4
- Adult size
- 5.1 in (13 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 29 gal (110 L)
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Reef safe
- Reef safe with caution
- Origin
- Native to the Indo-Pacific, living on coral reefs and rubble where it sways among growth to mimic a drifting leaf.
- Family
- Scorpaenidae
Overview
This is a delicate specialist for an experienced keeper, best in its own small tank of around 110 litres with gentle flow and rock perches, at 22 to 26 C and pH 8.0 to 8.4. It ignores corals but eats small fish and shrimp, so keep no bite-sized tankmates. The hard part is feeding: it usually demands live saltwater shrimp or small feeder fish and is slowly trained to take thawed food wobbled past it on a stick. It will not compete for food, so it must never share a tank with fast eaters.
In the wild
The leaf scorpionfish is a tiny, flattened ambush predator with a tall sail-like dorsal fin, shaped and coloured to look exactly like a dead leaf or piece of algae. It comes in white, yellow, pink, red, green or brown and rocks gently back and forth to complete the drifting-leaf illusion. It stays put on a perch and waits for prey to wander close.
Good to know
Taenianotus triacanthus reaches only about 13 cm and, unusually among scorpionfish, sheds its outer skin like a snake every couple of weeks to stay free of algae and parasites. Its dorsal spines carry a mild venom used for defence. It sways in place to mimic vegetation moving in the surge, which both hides it and lures curious prey.
Did you know
The leaf scorpionfish sheds its whole outer skin every one to two weeks, peeling it off like a sock to shed the algae and parasites that would otherwise give away its leaf disguise.
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Keeping Leaf scorpionfish?
Track water tests, reminders and stocking fit.
Related species
Fu Manchu lionfish
Dendrochirus biocellatus5.1 in (13 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish
Dendrochirus brachypterus7.1 in (18 cm)50 gal (190 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Antennata lionfish
Pterois antennata7.9 in (20 cm)79 gal (300 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Radiata Lionfish
Pterois radiata9.4 in (24 cm)70 gal (265 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Dwarf Zebra Lionfish
Dendrochirus zebra9.8 in (25 cm)60 gal (227 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Devil firefish
Pterois miles13.8 in (35 cm)106 gal (400 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)