African Leaffish

Polycentropsis abbreviata

Freshwater West and central Africa

A masters of camouflage, this leaf-mimicking predator hovers motionless among plants before engulfing prey with an enormous protractile mouth. It eats any fish small enough to swallow and often refuses dry foods. Provide soft, warm water and an exclusive diet of live livebearers or insects.

6.5 cm adult length, drawn to scale. deep body.

Try it in the planner Opens a tank sized to its minimum with 1 fish added.

What it needs

Item	Value	Because
Adult length	6.5 cm	Used for the Space check: the tank must be long enough for the fish to turn round.
Smallest tank	90 L, at least 60 cm long estimated	The least water and floor length this species is kept in for good, as a single fish or smallest group.
Extra water per added fish	20 L estimated	What each further fish adds once the minimum is met.
Waste load	Class 3 of 5 estimated	How much waste an adult makes against its size. Feeds the Load check.
Temperature	24 to 28 C	Stock sharing a tank need overlapping ranges.
pH	6 to 7	Compared with tankmates in the Water check.
Hardness	GH 2 to 8, KH 1 to 4	Degrees of general and carbonate hardness.
Flow	Low	Low-flow fish are stressed in a strong current.
Light	Dim	Matched to the lighting class on the needs sheet.
Group size	Single fish is fine	Not a schooling species.
Temperament	Predator	Territorial: weak.
Swims in	Middle water	Fish that use different levels share a tank more easily.
Lifespan	About 5 years	A fish is a long commitment.
Experience	Experienced keepers only	A guide to how forgiving the species is of mistakes.

Tags marked estimated are judged from the size and habits of the species rather than measured, so treat them as a sensible default.

Diet and tank layout

African Leaffish is an carnivore that swims in the middle of the tank. It is safe with plants. Give it plenty of cover. It will eat fish small enough to swallow.

Tankmates

Works with

Depends

Avoid

Compare any two fish on the compatibility page, or print the equipment for a stock on the needs sheet. How this is worked out: the method.