| A pair of freshwater Angelfish | |
|---|---|
| A pair of freshwater Angelfish | |
| Basic Information | |
| Lifespan: | 10-12 years |
| Size: | 8-13 inches (20-32.5cm) tall |
| Diet: | Carnivorous |
| Tank Size: | |
| Shoaling/Schooling: | |
| Minimum Group Size: | |
| Water Parameters | |
| Temperature: | 78-86 Fahrenheit (25.5-30 Celsius) |
| pH: | 6-8 (7 preferred) |
| Hardness: | 5-12 dH (90-200ppm) |
| Behavior | |
| Compatibility: | community safe in the right conditions |
| Temperament: | Semi-aggressive |
| Swimming Level: | Top/Middle swimmers |
Not to be confused with the marine angelfish, which are any members of the Pomacanthidae family.
Freshwater angelfish are any member of the genus Pterophyllum. There are only three species in this genus, each available in the aquarium trade. P. scalare is the most common of the three, with P. altum being a bit harder to find due to their larger size when compared to P. scalare. P. leopoldi is difficult to find in captivity, and most specialized fish stores will only have P. altum and P. scalare. Due to their undemanding care requirements, ease of breeding, and their recognizable shape, the angelfish is a common and favorite fish in the hobby.
The freshwater angelfish is part of the cichlid family, although the angelfish is much more vertically stretched. This is to help them to hide in the plants endemic to their native range and avoid predation. Because the angelfish is both a predator and prey, it makes them significantly more docile than other cichlids that tend to sit at the top of a food chain in their respective environments. Because of this, an angelfish can be put into a community tank, but with caution. They are still cichlids and are known to be somewhat aggressive, especially during breeding and mating. Although they exhibit shoaling behavior, they are able to be kept alone with other fish to help mitigate aggression from breeding.
Habitat
The angelfish is native to the freshwaters of South America, which gives them an interesting set of adaptations. They are naturally found in blackwater environments, which means they are adapted to slow moving, soft, acidic waters. They thrive in waters with a pH of 5.5, or in waters as high as 8.4. This makes them a beginner friendly fish, as they tolerate a very wide range of water chemistry. However, they do have a few requirements that typically will discourage newer fish keepers. Firstly, they do get bigger than a lot of aquarium fish you'll find at a pet store. While not as big as some commonly sold fish (i.e. comet goldfish, Oscar cichlids, or common plecos), they do require a bigger tank than most beginners feel comfortable with. Unlike most aquarium fish, height matters a lot for these fish and is just as important as horizontal room. A 55 gallon (208 liter) or bigger tank is recommended for their long-term comfort.
While not very demanding on water chemistry, angelfish are indeed tropical fish and require a heater. While they are more tolerant of poor water conditions than other more fragile fish, they need a cycled tank that is properly maintained. They do best with a heavily planted or decorated tank so they have spaces to hide in and divide the space to claim territories, which will generally keep aggressions to a minimum. Any plants will do, so long as they get tall enough for the angelfish to interact with. They do appreciate cover in the form of floating plants, though not necessary. Substrate doesn't matter to the angelfish, and they generally will not interact with the bottom of a tank, due to their body shape.
Behavior
The angelfish, being part of the cichlid family, is known to show parental behavior. They will guard and tend to eggs until they hatch, and even after, until the fry becomes free swimming. The angelfish is unique in its mate choices, as they will form mating pairs. They will generally mate only with their pair-bonded partner, and are known to refuse forming another pair bond when separated from a mate through various means. This behavior makes them easy to breed without a lot of inbreeding, so long as offspring are separated before they can bond with each other. They are also known to be able to recognize things happening outside of the aquarium, and will get excited for meal time and beg for food.
The angelfish can be a tricky fish as far as temperament. While some have a very peaceful nature, some can be very aggressive. This also is known to change depending on several factors. As the angelfish ages, it tends to get more aggressive. Due to their monogamous pair bonding, having a mate die can cause a once peaceful fish to become irritable and very aggressive. Poor water quality will also cause issues, as will an overstocked tank. They get very territorial during breeding, which if not planned for can be a huge problem. Some will be aggressive even if they have proper husbandry and are happy, and some will be completely non aggressive in the worst of conditions. It really depends on the fish.
Since the angelfish doesn't interact with the bottom of the tank often, peaceful bottom dwellers are generally safe to keep with angelfish. Some notable examples are Corydoras, bristlenose plecos, kuhli loaches, etc. Neocaridina shrimp are not recommended, as they will often become an expensive meal for the angelfish. Cardina shrimp can sometimes be kept with angelfish. It depends on a lot of factors. The safest bet is to not keep shrimp with the angelfish. Should the angelfish be on the more docile side, they can get along with any peaceful fish large enough to not become food. Some examples are larger tetras, such as lemon, x-ray, glowlight, and other peaceful tetras. Pristella tetras are not recommended due to their tendency to nip fins. Any known fin nippers are best avoided, as angelfish have long, delicate fins that are easily damaged.
Diet
Freshwater angelfish are some of the least picky eaters. They will eat anything and everything that will fit in their mouths. They will readily take flake food, freeze dried, frozen or live worms, brine shrimp, and daphnia. The best diet for any fish, especially angelfish, is a variety in foods. Flake and freeze dried foods can cause issues with constipation and bloating, which can be fatal in some cases. Preventing such issues is far better than treating them.