Freshwater Angelfish: A must-have for home aquariums

Walking down an aquarium, your eyes are bound to be captivated by Freshwater Angelfish, whether you happen to be an enthusiast or simply a visitor. With tall, pointed fins and their shimmering scales, the Freshwater Angelfish, scientifically known a Pterophyllum scalare, are an absolute gem for aquarium enthusiasts. While they are absolutely a sight to see, they also happen to be incredibly rewarding to cultivate in your aquarium.

terophyllum scalareP, native to South America, happen to be a species of cichlid that can generally be found in Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Brazil, and Peru. These fish can be found in various river systems, including the great Amazon itself. Growing up to a length of 6 inches, and a height of 8 inches, they are known to have a compressed body structure, resulting in them being quite thin. Freshwater Angelfish come in a gorgeous variety of colors, ranging from black and silver marble, colored stripes, and simply solid silver, and given ideal conditions, will live up to 10 years or even longer.

As mentioned above, Freshwater Angelfish can grow up to a length of 6 inches, and 8 inches in height. It is advised to have them in a tank with a minimum capacity of 30 gallons. Bigger is better. Growing taller rather than longer means that you’ll want to choose your tank sizes and proportions accordingly. Maintain a temperature between 75- and 84-degrees Fahrenheit, and hailing from the Amazon River system, they prefer a slightly acidic pH between 6.0 and 7.5. This also means a that the Pterophyllum scalare will appreciate a densely planted aquarium.

The Freshwater Angelfish is considered to be semi-aggressive but will get along with most other community species. However, keep them away from the fin-nipping fish, as they end up damaging these beautiful species, ending with fin rot and so on. Likewise, keep smaller fish away from the Freshwater Angelfish, as they are likely to get aggressed on. Make sure not to overcrowd the tank, as it will result in an increase in aggression and territorial aggression in these species.

While they are omnivores by nature, Freshwater Angelfish prefer a meat-based diet. While they enjoy feeding on small crustaceans and aquatic invertebrates in the wild, they happen to be more flexible in a home aquarium environment. Flake and pellet food is appreciated, complimented with plenty of live food, as well as frozen and free-dried food. In other words, it doesn’t take much to please these incredible species.

Freshwater Angelfish are favorites for a reason, an absolute staple in home aquariums, fairly easy to keep, and adding an unmistakable aesthetic to your tank.