November is fin-ally here and with it is the Angelfish, our fish of the month here at Centreville Aquarium. Angelfish are endemic to the Amazon River basin, inhabiting waterways mainly filled by dense vegetation. There are three different species of the freshwater Angelfish: Pterophyllum scalare, Pterophyllum altum, and Pterophyllum leopoldi. P. scalare is the most popular species of Angelfish in the aquarium hobby, as the altum Angelfish are very difficult to keep due to their need for extremely soft, well-oxygenated water, among other specific care requirements, while P. leopoldi specimens have a very distinct, teardrop-shaped nose that can turn off hobbyists who find it undesirable. In the wild, P. scalare have silvery scales patterned with black vertical stripes, and this coloration is also the most popular variety in captivity. Due to their popularity and ease of breeding, freshwater Angelfish now come in hundreds of varieties, from marble to black veil.
To breed freshwater Angelfish, it’s generally recommended that the new breeder starts with six juvenile fish, and waits for them to pair up, as young Angelfish can be challenging to identify as male or female. After the Angelfish pair up, it is suggested that the pair are moved to a 20-gallon high tank, with a sponge filter to prevent damage to the fry. With good water quality, live plants, and a nutritious diet, they’ll be producing young in no time.
One of the most beneficial foods for freshwater Angelfish are brine shrimp, which help keep them healthier and have a taste that Angelfish love. At Centreville Aquarium, we carry a wide selection of the best brine shrimp for your fish, including live, frozen, freeze-dried, and even brine shrimp eggs to hatch into baby brine, so your Angelfish fry can enjoy the benefits that brine shrimp bring.
In the home aquarium, the popular P. scalare will typically reach an adult length of around 5-6 inches. Despite their size, freshwater Angelfish aren’t usually aggressive towards tankmates, although they can become territorial with each other when breeding or guarding their young. Good tankmates for these fish are tropical community fish that are too large to fit in the Angelfish’s mouth. Since Angelfish are a smaller-mouthed fish, this means that many species of tetras, barbs, corydora catfish, and rainbowfish all make appropriate company. Angelfish can be surprisingly intelligent and reactive, going so far as to follow their owner as they walk by the tank and beg for food. Due to their beauty, temperament, and ease of care, most hobbyists and fish lovers find themselves having Angelfish in their collection eventually.
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