Pterophyllum scalare
Freshwater Angelfish
Angelfish are elegant, deep-bodied cichlids that reward a tall, well-planted tank with striking display behaviour, but their territorial streak means tankmates need careful choosing.
At a glance
- Scientific name
- Pterophyllum scalare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Amazon river basin of South America
- Lifespan
- 10 years or more in well-kept tanks
- Adult size
- 15 cm long, up to 25 cm tall including fins
- Weight
- Not typically measured
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive, territorial once paired, calmer in groups when young
- Activity level
- Moderate; graceful mid-water swimmers
- Social needs
- Best kept in a group of five or six juveniles or as an established pair
- Intelligence
- Recognises its keeper and can learn feeding routines
- Noise
- Silent
Housing and environment
- Housing
- Minimum 150 litre tall tank, taller than 45 cm to suit their body shape
- Space requirement
- Tall planted tank with open swimming columns and vertical driftwood or plants
- Temperature
- 24–29°C
- Humidity
- Not applicable
- Exercise
- Provided by tank size and tall décor to swim through
- Grooming
- Not applicable; fin condition reflects water quality
Diet and feeding
Omnivorous: quality pellets or flake plus live or frozen bloodworm and brine shrimp
Behaviour and compatibility
Pair formation, territory defence around spawning sites, slow deliberate swimming
- With children
- Good display fish for children to observe, not handle
- With other animals
- Can be fin-nippy toward slow, long-finned tankmates; avoid small tetras
- Training difficulty
- Not applicable
Health
- Hole-in-the-head disease
- Ich
- Fin rot from poor water quality
- Bloat
- Aggression injuries between pairs
Aquatic vets are rare; a knowledgeable fish supplier and careful water testing substitute in most regions
Special care requirements
Sudden pairing aggression can seriously injure other fish; watch new groups closely
Before you take one on
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