Order Perciformes
Family Nandidae
Subfamily ( Nandinae )
Genus Polycentropsis
— African Leaffish — Polycentropsis abbreviata [Boulenger, 1901]. Tropical Africa: Niger and Ogooué rivers. 8 cm. The body is short, high, heavily compressed laterally, and covered with glittering, fairly large scales. The fish has an unusually elongated, sharp head with a huge mouth and large eyes. The caudal peduncle is very short. Coloration is highly variable depending on the fish’s mood, featuring dark spots on an ochre, greenish, or bluish background. Light reddish-brown with dark brown patterned designs. Dark stripes run from the eye to the lips, throat, and the origin of the dorsal fin.
The dorsal and anal fins are very high and divided into two parts: an anterior part with hard, sparsely spaced rays, and a posterior part consisting of soft rays. The pectoral fins are triangular, and the pelvic fins are strongly elongated. The caudal, pectoral, and posterior parts of the dorsal and anal fins are completely colorless. Due to the transparent caudal fin, the fish appears tailless and stubby. The female is colored paler than the male, with less distinct spot patterns. During the spawning period, the male’s coloration darkens. The male can be distinguished from the female only by size, as the male is larger.
The movements of the fish are calm, slow, and smooth. They become significantly more active by evening, while during the day they rarely leave their shelters. Very aggressive both towards conspecifics and fish of other species. It is best to keep them in a species aquarium with dense thickets, floating plants, rock structures, and driftwood providing hiding spots. The aquarium should be dimly lit using floating plants. Any water movement should be kept to a minimum. Soft, acidic water is essential.
An ambush predator. Diet: small live fish, tadpoles, earthworms, and other live foods. Like labyrinth fish, the male builds a bubble nest under a leaf. After spawning, the male continues to care for the eggs. Remaining under the nest, he uses rapid movements of his pectoral fins to ensure a supply of fresh, oxygen-rich water to the eggs. dH 5-15°; pH 6.0-7.0; T 22-25°C.
Identification: African Leaffish — Polycentropsis abbreviata.
Subfamily ( Pristolepidinae )
Genus Pristolepis
— Malayan Leaffish — Pristolepis fasciata [Bleeker, 1851]. Synonyms: Pristolepis fasciatus, Catopra siamensis. Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, islands of the Malay Archipelago; more commonly found in lakes than rivers. 20 cm. The body is stocky, the mouth is small and narrow, with the upper jaw reaching the anterior margin of the eye. Several dark lines below the eye extend from the mouth to the gill covers. Gill covers with two spines. The caudal fin is rounded.
Body coloration is greenish or brownish-yellow, with a black spot on the shoulder and 8-12 black vertical stripes on the flanks. The upper part is dark, the belly is paler, typically yellowish. Pectoral fins are yellowish, the rest are greenish. Territorial fish. They feed on filamentous algae, plants, aquatic insects, and crustaceans. They reach maturity in the first year at a length of 7-8 cm. The male builds a bubble nest and guards it until the fry are free-swimming. They live up to 4.5 years.
— Indian Leaffish — Pristolepis marginata [Jerdon, 1849]. Synonyms: Catopra marginata, Pristolepis malabarica, marginatus, Nandus malabaricus. India. 11-15 cm. Can be aggressive. Sexual differences are subtle. Aquarium with a strong water flow, sandy substrate, smooth rocks, driftwood, and roots to provide hiding spots. This fish will likely swallow any small fish. T 23-28°C; pH 6.5-7.5; dH 5-12°.
Nandus nandus, Nandus nebulosus.
Monodactylus sebae, Monodactylus kottelati. 
