Altum Angelfish

Pterophyllum Scalare

A wild type P. altum
A wild type P. altum
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

Altum Angelfish (Pterophyllum altum)

Due to ease of breeding and its unique shape, the freshwater angelfish is one of the more common fish in the hobby, beloved by beginner and expert fish keepers alike.

Aquarium Setup

For an ideal angelfish aquarium setup, consider the following:

Tank Size: 40+ gallons (144 liter)

Plants: Tall stem plants, swords, or any vertical plants are strongly recommended

Substrate: Relatively unimportant to the fish, so anything that works for the plants

Lighting: Unimportant for the fish, but important for the plants with the fish

Filtration: Medium amount of filtration is adequate

Water Parameters: Can adapt to, and thrive in, a wide range of parameters, so long as the temperature is adequate.

Behavior

Being a cichlid, the angelfish is prone to being aggressive in poor water conditions, breeding, and overcrowding, however, most of their aggression will be directed to conspecifics housed in the same tank. Cichlids are known for their parental instinct, and angelfish will actively tend to, and protect, their clutch of eggs. The angelfish is unique in that it will form a monogamous pair for mating. This bond is so strong that individuals separated from their mate will generally refuse to mate with another individual, even becoming aggressive to other tankmates or listless when separated for any reason. They are known to be aware of things outside of the glass, and individuals with proper husbandry that are healthy will beg for food when they see someone near the tank.

Good tankmates will largely depend on the angelfish's temperament. Generally speaking, unless breeding, the large majority of angelfish can be kept with a large variety of tankmates. The two things to consider when deciding on tankmates for the angelfish are size and temperament. Any known fin nippers should be avoided, as the angelfish has large and delicate fins that are irresistible for fish prone to nipping. The angelfish grows large enough to be able to make an expensive snack out of micro-fish, however, smaller to medium sized fish are fine. Some good examples of tankmates are any species of corydoras catfish (except pygmy corydoras, as they are small enough to be eaten), most medium to large tetras, livebearers such as guppies or platys, and rainbowfish such as the dwarf neon rainbowfish.

Diet

The angelfish is one of the least picky eaters. They will accept anything from flake food to frozen or live food. While generally a boon, it can be a bane, as the angelfish grows large enough to eat neocaridina shrimp, or other small fish and invertebrates. However, they do well to help control a livebearer for this reason, as they will actively hunt unwanted fry.

Natural Habitat

The angelfish is native to the Amazon River Basin and comes from soft, slow-moving waters that are densely planted. They are used to the shifts in parameters during flooding seasons, which makes them very tolerant of shifts in water chemistry, which makes them a great beginner fish.

Varieties

The altum angelfish is easily identified by their larger size when compared to P. scalare or P. leopoldi. They can interbreed, which can lead to the same or similar variations in the common angelfish.

Notable Facts

The odd shape of the angelfish is an adaptation to its native environment to help it to hide among the tall, vertical plants and tree roots to avoid predation. The discus has a similar shape adaptation, being a cichlid from the same area of the world.