Leaf fish - how do you handle it?

[yoav]

hi,

this amazing fish caught my interest the other day, and I was wondering - how do you handle it, being a venomous fish? and can you keep a small one with larger clownfish?

 

THANKS

[yoshii]

Well, it's not like you are going to pet your leaf fish every morning

If you have to move it, use a net and just watch your hands. For any venomous fish, just be aware of where the fish is in the tank while you are cleaning. If you get too close, it will let you know by leaning forward and stiffening its dorsal spines.

 

Leaffish are pretty chill and I simply scoot mine over to the other side of the tank while I am cleaning (usually I just kinda push/scoop him by the tail end with my hand). With other venomous species that swim more, such as most lions, you can wait for them to swim to the other side, or use a net to gently move them away from where you are working.

 

If the leaf is small, and the clowns are quite large yes, but just be aware that the leaffish will grow and they will eat anything that fits in their mouth, which when extended is pretty big.

[Bill Nye]

Very carefully...

[metrokat]

Well, it's not like you are going to pet your leaf fish every morning