[Ebook] Encyclopedia of Aquarium & Pond Fish – Directory of Freshwater Fish – Cichlids – Angelfish

Directory of Freshwater Fish

Cichlids

Angelfish

Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare)

• ORIGINS: South America, occurring through much of the Amazon basin, eastward from Peru to Belem, Brazil.
• SIZE: 6 in (15 cm).
• DIET: Prepared foods, vegetable matter, small live foods.
• WATER: Temperature 75–82°F (24–28°C); soft (50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.5).
• TEMPERAMENT: Relatively peaceful, but territorial.

This graceful cichlid is among the most popular of all tropical fish. Young Angelfish are sometimes recommended for community aquariums, but their long fins make easy targets for fin-nippers such as Tiger Barbs. Furthermore, Angelfish will soon grow too large for the tank and may start to bully their companions. It is best to house these fish in a single-species setup, where a pair may be persuaded to breed. The only way of visually distinguishing the sexes is when the female swells with eggs prior to spawning.

In the early stages of pair-bonding, the fish lock jaws and engage in mouth-wrestling, which may be mistaken for aggression. The spawning site is usually a vertical surface, such as a piece of slate or a rigid leaf of one of the larger Amazon Swordplants (Echinodorus spp.) Surround the thermostatic heater with mesh to dissuade the fish from spawning nearby; heat will destroy the eggs. Angelfish eggs are susceptible to fungus, so you may need to add fungicide to the water. The female lays up to 1,000 eggs, which the pair guards until they hatch three days later. A young pair breeding for the first time may produce a much smaller number of eggs and then eat them, but they will usually spawn again within a month.

The newly hatched fry are transferred to a pit excavated in the substrate, where they are watched over by both parents. Feed the young on fry food initially and then on brine shrimp. When they are free-swimming, they may nibble mucus off the flanks of the adults to supplement their diet.

• Silver Angelfish This variety most closely approximates to the wild form, displaying the characteristic fourbanded patterning. The intensity of the black bands will fade somewhat if the fish are kept under bright light.
• Golden Angelfish Originally known as the Butterball, the Golden Angelfish was first developed in the United States during the 1970s. The trend has since been to create individuals with a deeper, more orange appearance.
• Black Angelfish The black pigmentation on the fins and body of these fish keeps their striped patterning largely hidden. The body also shows green iridescence.
• German Blue Blushing Angelfish First bred in Germany, this variety has a pale, silvery-blue body color and a contrasting bright-red area below the eyes. A darker Chocolate form also exists.
• Gold Marbled Veiltail Angelfish The veiltail characteristic was first recorded in 1956 in Germany.

Altum Angelfish (Pterophyllum altum)

• ORIGINS: South America, occurring in Colombia and Venezuela in the central part of the Rio Orinoco.
• SIZE: 10 in (25 cm).
• DIET: Prepared foods, vegetable matter, small live foods.
• WATER: Temperature 82–86°F (28–30°C); soft (50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.0).
• TEMPERAMENT: Relatively peaceful, but territorial.

The Altum Angelfish has a much taller body than the Angelfish itself. It also has a flattened area above the jaw and a steeper, less curved profile leading up to the dorsal fin. Altum Angelfish can be housed together in groups. As with the Angelfish, this species needs a relatively deep tank to accommodate its elongated shape. Altum Angelfish are difficult to breed, but maintaining good water chemistry may help to encourage spawning, as may raising the water temperature slightly and increasing the amount of live foods in the diet. Check fish for signs of white spot (see p.58) before buying and also if water temperature falls significantly for any period

Altum Angelfish (Pterophyllum altum)

• ORIGINS: South America, occurring in Colombia and Venezuela in the central part of the Rio Orinoco.
• SIZE: 10 in (25 cm).
• DIET: Prepared foods, vegetable matter, small live foods.
• WATER: Temperature 82–86°F (28–30°C); soft (50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.0).
• TEMPERAMENT: Relatively peaceful, but territorial.

The Altum Angelfish has a much taller body than the Angelfish itself. It also has a flattened area above the jaw and a steeper, less curved profile leading up to the dorsal fin. Altum Angelfish can be housed together in groups. As with the Angelfish, this species needs a relatively deep tank to accommodate its elongated shape. Altum Angelfish are difficult to breed, but maintaining good water chemistry may help to encourage spawning, as may raising the water temperature slightly and increasing the amount of live foods in the diet. Check fish for signs of white spot (see p.58) before buying and also if water temperature falls significantly for any period.

THIN AND WEEDY

Angelfish live in relatively slowflowing, reedy stretches of water, where their tall, narrow body shape allows them to weave in and out of the vegetation with ease. When danger threatens, they can dart in among the reeds to avoid detection. Even if they are spotted and pursued, they have an advantage over larger, bulkier predators, which cannot move as swiftly through the mass of plant stems. A wild Angelfish’s body stripes confer a further advantage, helping to break up the outline of the fish so that it blends in with the reed stalks and shadows.

A tank for Angelfish should contain areas of thick plant growth into which the fish can retreat when nervous. Aquatic Amazonian plants with upright leaves, such as the Ruffled Amazon Swordplant (Echinodorus major), are ideal for this purpose. Taller Vallisnerias can also be used, because they thrive in the deeper aquariums that adult Angelfish require.

[Ebook] Encyclopedia of Aquarium & Pond Fish – David Alderton (Photo by Max Gibbs)