Angelfish

Pterophyllum scalare

Regal and graceful – but an adult angelfish will happily swallow any tetra small enough to fit in its mouth.

A semi-aggressive freshwater fish that grows to 15 cm, lives in the middle of the tank and needs 24–30 °C, pH 6.0–7.8 and an aquarium of at least 120 L.

Care at a glance

Water

Freshwater

Temperature

24–30 °C (75–86 °F)

pH

6.0–7.8

Adult size

15 cm (5.9 in)

Aquarium

120 L or bigger (32 US gal)

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

Group size

Fine on its own

Swims

Middle

Diet

Omnivore

Wild home

Amazon basin

Good to know

• Long fins. An easy target for fin nippers.

Tank mates

Good company: Bristlenose Pleco, Clown Loach, Corydoras, Dwarf Gourami, Honey Gourami, Kuhli Loach, Otocinclus, Pearl Gourami, Siamese Algae Eater, Zebra Danio.

Will eat: Amano Shrimp, Cardinal Tetra, Celestial Pearl Danio, Chili Rasbora, Crystal Red Shrimp, Ember Tetra, Endler's Livebearer, Ghost Shrimp, Glowlight Tetra, Marbled Hatchetfish, Neocaridina Shrimp, Neon Tetra and 2 more.

Eaten by: Asian Arowana, Motoro Stingray, Ornate Bichir, Oscar, Siamese Tigerfish.

Attacked by: Flowerhorn, Jack Dempsey.

Harassed by: Black Skirt Tetra, Pea Puffer, Serpae Tetra, Tiger Barb.

Eats the newborn fry of: Axolotl, Betta, Black Skirt Tetra, Bloodfin Tetra, Boesemani Rainbowfish, Bristlenose Pleco, Cherry Barb, Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid, Comet Goldfish, Congo Tetra, Corydoras, Demasoni Cichlid and 26 more.

Its fry are eaten by: Axolotl, Bala Shark, Black Ghost Knifefish, Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid, Comet Goldfish, Electric Blue Acara, Fancy Goldfish, Firemouth Cichlid, Flowerhorn, Frontosa, Jack Dempsey, Kribensis and 5 more.

Grown ones eat their own newborn fry, so raise the young in another aquarium.

Colours and breeding

• Silver uncommon
• Marble uncommon
• Koi uncommon
• Black Velvet uncommon
• Platinum rare
• Altum epic
• Sweetheart Blush rare

In Aquarius a grown male and female breed in a healthy tank. Their young are born about 0.4 cm long and take after one of the parents.

Some pairs give a colour neither parent has:

• Silver × Black Velvet can give Marble
• Marble × Koi can give Platinum

Now and then a rare mutation shows up: Altum.

The care values are the ones Aquarius uses, based on how these animals live. Tank mates follow the game's rules: water type, temperature and pH, who can swallow whom, fin nipping, temperament and territory.