Malayan leaf fish

Pristolepis fasciata

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 73–82°F (23–28°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Adult size: 7.9 in (20 cm)
Minimum tank: 40 gal (150 L)
Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Solitary
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Difficult
Breeding: Hard
Rarity: Very rare
Origin: Thailand
Family: Pristolepididae

Overview

The Malayan leaf fish is a stocky, predatory fish usually kept on its own or with large, robust tankmates it cannot swallow. It is not especially aggressive toward fish its own size, but it will eat smaller companions and can be pushy at feeding time, so choose tankmates carefully. It appreciates a well-structured tank with driftwood, rockwork, and hardy plants to break up sight lines. Feed meaty foods such as prawn, mussel, earthworms, and small feeder items, and most specimens take frozen foods readily once settled. It grows to a good size, so give it a tank of around 150 liters or larger with plenty of swimming and hiding room.

In the wild

The Malayan leaf fish comes from the still and slow-moving fresh waters of Thailand and neighboring parts of Southeast Asia, living in vegetated ponds, wetlands, and canals rather than fast rivers. It likes warm, quiet water with plenty of cover. Recreate that with driftwood, roots, rockwork, and robust plants, along with gentle filtration and a soft substrate. Keep the temperature from 23 to 28 C and the pH between 6 and 7.5. It is adaptable to a range of conditions but does best in clean, stable water with subdued lighting.

Good to know

The Malayan leaf fish belongs to the family Pristolepididae and is also known by the name Catopra. Despite its common name it is not one of the specialized leaf-mimicking fishes, and its deep, banded body is a general predator shape rather than true leaf camouflage. Adults reach about 20 cm and mature at around 7 to 8 cm. It is a substrate spawner, and although it is farmed for food in parts of its range, breeding it in the home aquarium is considered difficult.

Did you know

The Malayan leaf fish is only a leaf fish by name. Unlike the true leaf fishes that drift and tilt to mimic dead foliage, it is a stocky, deep-bodied predator. Across Southeast Asia it is better known as a food fish, caught and farmed for the table as much as for the aquarium.