Angelfish care guide
Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) — minimum tank 150 L, temperature 24-30 °C, pH 6-7.5. Semi-aggressive middle-water species.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
The Freshwater Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) is a cichlid from the Amazon basin recognised by its tall, laterally compressed body and elongated dorsal and anal fins. Adults can become territorial during spawning and may predate on very small tank mates.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Pterophyllum
- Scientific name: Pterophyllum scalare
- Common synonyms: Freshwater Angelfish
Habitat
Inhabits the Amazon and its tributaries — including the Ucayali, Oyapock, Essequibo and Solimões rivers — typically in swamps and flooded forest with dense vegetation and either clear or silty water.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 150 L (39.6 US gal)
- Adult size: 12-15 cm
- Temperature: 24-30 °C (75-86 °F)
- pH: 6-7.5
- GH: 3-10 °dGH
- Water flow: low
- Lifespan: 8-12 years
Diet
An opportunistic carnivore-leaning omnivore. In the wild it consumes small fish fry, juvenile fishes, shrimp, worms, mosquito larvae and water insects. In aquaria offer quality pellet or flake plus frozen and live foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp and daphnia.
Compatibility
A semi-aggressive species, especially when breeding. Suitable companions include Corydoras, Bristlenose Pleco, Rummy-nose Tetra and German Blue Ram. Avoid combining with very small tetras (such as Neon Tetra) which may be eaten, and with fin-nippers such as Tiger Barb.
Breeding
A substrate-spawner. Pairs select and clean a vertical surface — broadleaf plant, rock or aquarium glass — where the female deposits a flat patch of eggs that the male then fertilises. Both parents guard eggs and fry. A live or varied diet supports reproductive performance.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern. The species is widespread and most aquarium specimens are captive-bred.
Breeding Angelfish
Overview
The Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) is a substrate-spawning cichlid of intermediate breeding difficulty. A bonded pair needs little encouragement to spawn, and both parents share care of the eggs and fry.
Sexing
Males are quite difficult to distinguish from females. They have a smaller, pointed genital papilla, but this can usually only be seen when spawning. Males tend toward greater aggression and territorial display, especially when ready to breed.
Conditioning the Breeders
The reliable way to obtain a pair is to start with a group of six juveniles and let a pair form naturally. Conditioning is done with live foods such as bloodworm and brine shrimp; once a bonded pair exists, little extra is needed to encourage spawning.
Breeding Setup & Spawning
Angels deposit their eggs on vertical surfaces such as slate, broad-leaved plants or even the aquarium glass. The pair cleans the chosen site before the female lays rows of eggs and the male follows over them to fertilise them. A bonded pair needs little encouragement to begin, so once a pair has formed from the group the priority is simply a clean spawning surface and stable water.
Egg & Fry Care
Angelfish make good parents and will guard first the eggs and then the fry once they have hatched. The young usually absorb their yolk sacs after about two days, after which they accept newly hatched brine shrimp followed by commercially available fry food. Both parents share guarding duties, fanning and defending the brood through the early free-swimming stage.
Common Challenges
Even good parents occasionally eat their fry, so the breeders must be kept well fed on live foods such as bloodworm and brine shrimp. Sexing is unreliable away from spawning because the male's pointed genital papilla is normally only visible then, and inexperienced pairs may consume their early spawns but often improve with subsequent attempts.