Angelfish | Description and Characteristics |
Size | Up to 6inches or 15cm |
Fish Hardiness | Fairly easy to keep |
Water Temperature | 75.2 to 86°F or 24 to 30°C |
Water Ph | 6.0 to 8.0 pH |
Water Hardness | 5 to 13 dH |
Peaceful or Aggressive | Peaceful in general but can become territorial and will eat smaller fish |
Number of same species in tank | Two or more |
Community Fish | Yes but do not put fish known to be fin nippers with them in the same fish tank |
Sexes | Can only really be determined when observing spawning |
Strata | Mostly Middle |
Food | Flakes, Mosquito Larvae and Brine Shrimp |
Breeding | Fairly easy to breed |
Breeding temperature | 80.6°F or 27°C |
Other names | Numerous due to color variations |
Scientific name | Pterophyllum scalare |
Lifespan | 10 years and older |
Ideal Conditions for an Angelfish
Appearance
The Angelfish is another species from my Tropical Fish Index. Very distinct are their extended dorsal and anal fins as well as the long and thin pelvic fins. As with the Discus Fish they are found in a variety of colors.
Aggressive
They are aggressive towards smaller and long finned fish for example Guppies, and will also be aggressive and territorial towards other Angels, especially when breeding. This aggression towards other Angels is better managed in larger, taller and well planted aquariums.
Community
They do fit into a community aquarium setup but select the other species with caution. Rather stick to species like the larger Tetra species, Gouramis, Plecos and Corydoras.
Feeding
They can be fed a diet of mainly flake food supplemented with other foods like blood worms and brine shrimp.
Breeding
Once two Angels have paired off, breeding can be stimulated by increasing the water temperature to 80.6°F or 27°C. A pH of 7 is ideal and a partial water change may also encourage them to spawn. They will spawn on rocks, glass or leaves. Both parents look after the eggs that will hatch within a couple of days. The fry remain attached to the yolk sacs for about a week after which they become free swimming.