Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare)

Common Name:

Angelfish.

Scientific Name:

Pterophyllum scalare.

Family:

Cichlidae.

Class:

South American Cichlid.

Distribution:

Hails from the Amazon and its main tributaries

Size:

Up to 6inches. Most aquarium specimens will reach between 4-6 inches in length. Height in certain varieties of angelfish can be over twice their length.

Diet:

Naturally carnivores; will eat most foods offered, though they have a special penchant for worms (blackworms, bloodworms).

Water Temperature:

75-82degrees F or 23-28 degrees C

pH:

6.0-7.2

Water Chemistry:

Very soft water (10-120 microsiemens)

Life Span:

10-15 years

Sexing:

Angelfish, in general, exhibit no outward signs of sexual differences. When a true pair has been established, the sexes can be differentiated by the more narrow and pointed papillae of the male and the stouter, more rounded papillae of the female. These are most obvious immediately before, during and for a while after laying eggs.

Breeding:

Angelfish have been captive-bred for many generations. In fact, they are so far removed from their natural environments that many of the specimens available today will thrive and breed in hard water. As with most cichlids, it is best to grow out a group of six juvenile specimens and let them pair off naturally. When a pair has formed, they will stake out their territory in the tank and ward off any intruders. Breeding Angelfish is a very large and potentially prosperous venture and has been attempted by many people. When starting with angelfish that are in the sub-adult to adult life-stage, it is fair to assume that most of them will not be good breeders. Most large angels are available simply for the fact that they ARE NOT good breeders. Once you have a true pair of angels, they will look particularly for a vertical site to lay their eggs on, such as a flowerpot, piece of slate, large plant leaf or even the heater or filter intake tube. Angelfish fry can be reared with very small live or frozen foods, such as baby brine shrimp, microworms and vinegar eels. In general, angels (like most cichlids) have good parental instincts and will raise their own broods (though eating the eggs or fry the first few times is fairly common). If you choose to raise the fry yourself, a small container with an anti-fungal agent along with a stream of air bubbles running near the eggs should be an adequate substitute for the attention of the parents.

Requirements:

Angelfish naturally come from acidic, nutrient-poor waters, though through their years being captive-bred they have adapted to just about every water chemistry available. Having said that, it is important to note that angels are notoriously poor shippers. Therefore finding a local source is always your best bet to maintain healthy specimens for the long-term. A varied diet should be offered, though angels are considered carnivorous. Some of their favorite foods are frozen brine shrimp and frozen bloodworms, though most captive-bred specimens will take flakes or just about anything offered to them. An interesting note is that one of their favorite foods (bloodworms) is not found in their natural habitat due to the acidity of the water being too high for mosquito reproduction. If you get your angels from a local source, they should be hardy, healthy fish. For example, I grow out my young Angelfish in reverse-osmosis waste water, with a pH around 8.5-9.0 and a conductivity of about 1800 uS (VERY hard water). They grow fast and are quite vibrant and healthy.

Tank size is going to be somewhat dependant on the size of the angel in question, mainly the height. Some of the more common varieties would do fine in a 20 high (I keep my breeder pairs in 20s). 29 gallon tanks would be good for a display pair, and possibly a few other small fish.

For a group of angels (since they are schooling fish in nature), a 55 gallon tank would be the minimum recommended size. 4-6 adult angels would work quite comfortably in a 55.

As noted earlier, tall tanks are preferable to "breeding" or standard tanks. Poor choices for angels would be: 10g, 20long, 30g, 40breeder, etc. Good choices would be: 20high, 29g, 45tall, 55g, etc.

Behaviour:

As far as aggressiveness goes, Angels tend to be on the lower end, especially considering they are cichlids. Most Angelfish will make peaceful community inhabitants, unless they pair off and begin to breed, at which point they may become complete aquarium terrors. Then again, with their long fins and slow swimming movements, they rarely do damage to other fish.

Description:

Angelfish are, and always have been, one of the most popular fish in the hobby today. Many different colored varieties and patterns are available, with new ones showing up frequently. They are available in both normal finned and veil varieties, oftentimes exceeding 12 inches in height from the top of their dorsal fin to the tip of their ventral fin. Angels are available in a variety to suit just about any aquarist, from standard silvers to golds, to koi varieties to leopard-spotted to black to half-black and just about everything in between.

Miscellaneous:

Although it is common for people to keep Angelfish with small Amazonian Tetras (such as Neons), special caution should be taken when mixing these fish, as large Angels are natural predators of small Tetras. South American Dwarf Cichlids, such as Rams (microgeophagus ramirezi or altispinosa) and Apistogramma sp are excellent tankmates for Angels, as are larger Tetras and other fish. Be especially wary of adding fish that are known fin-nippers, such as Tiger Barbs and Serpae Tetras, as an Angels' fins are often too tantalizing to pass up.

Photo Credit:

Photos supplied courtesy and ^©Bob Hart (Rab).