HomeFreshwater aquarium fishOddballs & predatorsGangetic leaffish Gangetic leaffish (Nandus nandus) Scientific name: Nandus nandus Hamilton, 1822 The Gangetic leaffish (Nandus nandus) is a freshwater fish of the family Nandidae that grows to about 20 cm (7.9 in). It is moderate to keep and aggressive, suits community aquariums and needs a tank of at least 150 L (40 US gal), water at 23–27°C (73–81°F) and a pH of 6.9–8.0. Native range: Asia, Pakistan to Thailand. Gangetic leaffish care at a glanceCare levelModerateTemperamentAggressiveCommunity tankGoodAdult size20 cm (7.9 in)Minimum tank150 L (40 US gal)Temperature23–27°C (73–81°F)pH6.9–8.0Hardness10–20 dGH (178–357 ppm)DietCarnivore. Accepts frozen foods and live foods. BiologyOccurs frequently in ditches and inundated fields. Common in summer months when it is collected from dried-up beds of tanks, beels, bheries and others. Found most commonly in standing or sluggish waters of lakes, reservoirs or canals. Feeds on aquatic insects and fishes. A high-prized fish in spite of its spinous fins and ugly black bands and blotches on the body. Sold fresh.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameNandus nandusFamilyNandidae (Asian leaffishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length20.0EnvironmentFreshwater; brackish;; pH range: 6.5 - 7.5; dH range: 6 - 8 benthopelagicClimateTropicalDistributionAsia: Pakistan to Thailand.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More oddballs & predatorsZig-zag eelMastacembelus armatusAmazon leaffishMonocirrhus polyacanthusBlack ghostApteronotus albifronsGlass knifefishEigenmannia virescensApteronotus leptorhynchusEel LoachPangio anguillarisSee all oddballs & predators Can it live with...?Gangetic leaffish and African bonytongueGangetic leaffish and Amazon leaffishGangetic leaffish and Black ghostGangetic leaffish and Black sharkminnowGangetic leaffish and Blackbarred limiaGangetic leaffish and Bleeding-heart tetraGangetic leaffish and Bloodfin tetraGangetic leaffish and Bluespotted corydorasGangetic leaffish and Brilliant rasboraGangetic leaffish and Butterfly splitfinGangetic leaffish and Chinese suckerGangetic leaffish and Clown barbGangetic leaffish and Clown loachGangetic leaffish and Clown rasboraGangetic leaffish and Crescent bettaGangetic leaffish and Dwarf botiaGangetic leaffish and Dwarf rainbowfishGangetic leaffish and Eel LoachGangetic leaffish and Elephantnose fishGangetic leaffish and Forktail rainbowfishGangetic leaffish and Freshwater butterflyfishGangetic leaffish and Garnet tetraGangetic leaffish and Glass catfishGangetic leaffish and Glass knifefishGangetic leaffish and Glowlight tetraGangetic leaffish and Goldeneye cichlidGangetic leaffish and Gulf gambusiaGangetic leaffish and Head-and-taillight tetraGangetic leaffish and Horseface loachGangetic leaffish and Indian glassy fish SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Aquarium care parameters compiled, checked and converted to metric and imperial units by Guppies.za.net.Last updated 28 September 2026