We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Aquatic

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Are Freshwater Angelfish?

By C. K. Lanz
Updated: Jun 04, 2024
Views: 7,818
Share

Freshwater angelfish are cichlids with flat, round bodies and triangular anal and dorsal fins. All species are from the Orinoco, Amazon, and Essequibo Rivers in South America. In the wild, freshwater angelfish tend to have long striped markings on their bodies that provide camouflage among plants and roots. As a result of selective breeding by fishkeeping enthusiasts or aquarists, many strains of the fish have been developed, including some without the distinctive stripes. These fish are easy to breed, semi-aggressive, and prefer a warm aquarium with an acidic environment.

Popular with aquarists for their unique appearance, the three recognized freshwater angelfish species belong to the genus Pterophyllum. This name comes from the Greek words for winged (pteron) and leaf (phyllon). Of the recognized species, most freshwater angelfish available to aquarists are P. scalare. This species was first described in 1823 by M.H.C. Lichtenstein.

P. scalare can be found in the Peruvian, Brazilian, and Colombian Amazon River basins. It prefers dense vegetation in which to hide, clear or silty water, and can also live in swamps. Its natural coloring is light with dark longitudinal stripes on its body. These stripes help this freshwater angelfish hide among the vegetation in the river. The majority of P. scalare available in stores are captive-bred.

Hearty enough for beginners, these fish thrive in a warm aquarium of approximately 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius). The water should have a pH of between six and eight. A dechlorinating agent is recommended if the water is chlorinated, but aerating the water will achieve the same effect in about 24 hours. Flake food and dried blood worms are appropriate foods for angelfish.

Freshwater angelfish can grow rather large with a body that is taller than it is long. The body can grow to 6 inches (15 centimeters) with a height of 8 inches (20 cm). As a result, angelfish require a tall tank that is big enough to give them sufficient space while growing to full size. A 50-gallon aquarium that is at least 18 inches (47 cm) deep is a sufficient size for between 12 and 15 fish. As the angelfish approach breeding size, half should be removed from the tank, leaving between six and seven individuals.

Although angels are usually considered to be semi-aggressive, their fins are vulnerable to nipping. More aggressive fish like some smaller tetras or barbs may nip at the longer fins. Angelfish are usually compatible with plecos, platies, and gouramis but may stalk neon tetras and guppies. Angels are comfortable in groups of at least three and ideally six or alone in an aquarium. In nonbreeding pairs or trios, the most aggressive may turn on the others.

When angelfish reach breeding age between six and 12 months, they form monogamous pairs. The pair will usually spawn on a flat surface like a piece of slate, the glass of their aquarium, or a plant leaf. The female deposits her eggs and then the male fertilizes them. The eggs will hatch after a few days, although sometimes the pair will eat them. Breeders may prefer to keep pairs in a bare aquarium and remove the eggs immediately after spawning to encourage the pair to spawn again.

Long, flowing fins, the flat, triangular body, and dramatic coloring attract many aquarists to freshwater angelfish. Selective breeding in captivity has resulted in many varieties. Some, like koi, are stripeless with brightly colored bodies, while others, like the pearlscale, have iridescent scales. The variety that most closely resembles the wild freshwater angelfish is silver. Freshwater angelfish are relatively simple to care for and offer aquarists many colorful and unique varieties to choose from.

Share
All Things Nature is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.allthingsnature.org/what-are-freshwater-angelfish.htm
Copy this link
All Things Nature, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

All Things Nature, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.