Moderate

African Leaf Fish

By The Aquarium Calculators Editorial Team ·

Ctenopoma acutirostre

Complete African Leaf Fish care guide covering carnivore diet requirements, semi-aggressive temperament, minimum 55 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Moderate.

African Leaf Fish

Quick Answer

African Leaf Fish (Ctenopoma acutirostre) is a perch-like fish from the Congo Basin. It requires a minimum 55 Gallons aquarium with a pH of 6.5 - 7.5 and temperature range of 24-28°C. As a carnivore with semi-aggressive tendencies, careful tankmate selection is essential.

Intro

African Leaf Fish (Ctenopoma acutirostre) is a perch-like fish from the Congo Basin. Its brown, mottled body and pointed snout mimic a decaying leaf, allowing it to ambush prey.

Setup

A 55-gallon or larger tank with plenty of driftwood, large plants, and hiding spots. They are not active swimmers; slow water flow is preferred.

Feeding

Carnivorous; eats live or frozen foods: fish pieces, shrimp, bloodworms, earthworms, and small feeder fish. Feed 2-3 times weekly.

Compatibility

Predatory but not overly aggressive to similarly sized fish. Keep singly or as a pair. Tankmates must be too large to eat: medium cichlids, large catfish, Silver Dollars.

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Tank Position
Middle
Water Temp
24-28°C
Adult Size
See profile
Water pH
6.5 - 7.5

Species Characteristics

Adult Size
Lifespan
Growth Rate
moderate
Tank Compatibility
Community compatible
Indoor Aquarium
Yes

Water Parameters

Water Temperature
Humidity
Water pH

Tank Lighting

Tank Lighting
Standard lighting
Light Hours
N/A
Intensity
moderate

Feeding & Diet

Diet Type
Diet: Carnivore
Feeding Schedule
N/A
Live Food Options
N/A

Continue Learning

Recommended Tools

Fish Compatibility Calculator fish compatibility

Health & Disease

Ich (White Spot Disease) common disease • all fish

Related Guides

Understanding pH in Aquariums water parameters • ph

Similar Species

Angelfish Care Guide: Tank Size & Diet | The Aquarium Calculators semanticSimilarity Badis Care Guide: Tank Size & Compatibility semanticSimilarity Black Ghost Knifefish Care Guide: Tank Size & Diet semanticSimilarity

Frequently Asked Questions

How many African Leaf Fish should be kept together?
Keep singly or as a single male-female mated pair in a tank of at least 40 gallons (150 liters) with a footprint of 36x18 inches (90x45 cm). African Leaf Fish (Ctenopoma acutirostre) are ambush predators that establish territories around dense foliage or driftwood. Two males in under 75 gallons (280 liters) will fight to severe injury, including eye damage and torn fins. Provide at least 3 distinct hiding zones per fish using Anubias, Java fern, and cave structures. Community tank mates must be too large to swallow (minimum 2 inches/5 cm body depth).
What are the exact water parameters for African Leaf Fish health?
Maintain pH 6.5 - 7.5, General Hardness 4 - 12 dGH, Carbonate Hardness 3 - 8 dKH, Total Dissolved Solids 100 - 250 ppm, Electrical Conductivity 200 - 500 μS/cm, and temperature 75°F - 82°F (24°C - 28°C). They are sensitive to nitrates above 20 ppm, requiring weekly 25% water changes. Provide pristine, well-filtered water with low current; use a canister filter rated for twice the tank volume. Adding Indian almond leaves (1 leaf per 10 gallons) mimics their natural blackwater habitat and reduces stress. Avoid pH swings >0.2 per day.
What is the dietary and medication protocol for African Leaf Fish?
They are specialized piscivores (obligate carnivores) that rely on live prey. Feed live ghost shrimp, guppy fry, small earthworms, or feeder guppies (quarantined). Train to take frozen silversides or lancefish from tongs by wiggling to simulate live movement. Feed 3-4 times weekly, not daily, as they digest slowly. They refuse dry foods and will starve. Medication alert: Highly sensitive to copper (0.15 ppm lethal) and formalin; use malachite green at half-dose. Scaleless skin absorbs chemicals rapidly; treat with praziquantel for internal parasites at 2 mg/L.
How to breed African Leaf Fish in captivity?
Condition a bonded pair with live foods (earthworms, ghost shrimp) for 2 weeks. Lower water level to 12 inches (30 cm), raise temperature to 82°F (28°C), and perform a 40% water change with soft (4 dGH), slightly acidic (pH 6.5) RO water. Provide floating plants (Salvinia) and a PVC pipe as spawning site. The male builds a bubble nest and wraps around the female; 500-1000 eggs float to surface. Remove parents immediately; eggs hatch in 24-36 hours. Fry are 0.1 inch (2.5 mm) and require infusoria for 5 days, then baby brine shrimp. Grow-out tank needs gentle filtration.

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