In this article...
Known for their unique appearance, the angelfish is a very popular breed amongst aquarists. These freshwater fish are also popular due to being hardy and being suitable for beginner fishkeepers.
If you’re interested in keeping freshwater angelfish or just curious about them, you can learn more about the angelfish with this guide.
What are freshwater angelfish?
Freshwater angelfish is a small freshwater fish genus that are part of the cichlid family. The three recognized species of freshwater angelfish are Pterophyllum altum, Pterophyllum leopoldi, and Pterophyllum scalare. These species originated and reside in different water bodies in Tropical South America.
Freshwater angelfish are one the most recognized freshwater species, they are a very popular fish known for their distinct appearance; a silver body that has three vertical stripes and long majestic fins. Aside from their majestic appearance that makes them great centerpiece fish, they are also known to be a hardy species that can do great in a community tank.
Species Overview
| Scientific name: | Pterophyllum scalare |
| Common names | Freshwater Angelfish |
| Distribution: | River basins of Brazil, Columbia, French Guiana, Guyana, and Peru |
| Size: | Body length up to 6 inches, Height up to 8 inches |
| Color: | Silver, White, Orange, Yellow, Gold |
| Diet: | Omnivorous |
| Temperament: | Peaceful but territorial |
| Minimum tank size: | 20 gallons |
| Place in the tank: | Middle or Upper Level |
| Care level: | Beginner |
| Breeding: | Beginner |
| Life Expectancy | 10 – 12 years |
How to pick healthy angelfish
When choosing a freshwater angelfish from pet stores, try to pick the healthiest of the bunch. Before looking at the fish, check the environment and overall condition of the fish tank. This can be a good indicator of how they handle their fish.
Look out for sickness or damage, check their fins and how they move. Another thing you can do is ask them if you can feed the angelfish, while feeding them look out for the most lively or the aggressive eaters.
How big do angelfish get?
Common angelfish or freshwater angelfish can grow up to 6 inches in length and up to 8 inches in height.
How long do angelfish live?
Angelfish can live up to 8 years to 12 years depending on the environment, diet, and tank conditions.
How much do angelfish cost?
The price of a freshwater angelfish varies depending on its size and color variety. Its price can range from 10$ up to 25$ and above.
Angelfish Tank Requirements
In the natural setting, angelfish live in slow moving bodies of water. When trying to create a tank for them, it’s best to replicate their natural environment. To give them enough space to thrive, they should be housed in a tank that’s at least 20 gallons in size. It’s also worth noting that since this species grow tall, it’s better to provide them with tall tanks rather than a wide tank.
The tank should have a soft and fine substrate as they like digging in the substrate. Putting caves, rocks, or other decorations that can serve as hiding places will be great for angelfish.
Tank Requirements Overview
| Tank Size: | 20 gallons |
| Water Type: | Freshwater |
| Water Temperature: | 75–82°F or 25–28°C |
| Water pH: | 6.0 to 7.5 pH |
| Water Hardness: | Soft |
| Tank Setup: | Tank with Driftwood, java fern, anubias |
| Substrate: | Fine substrate |
| Water Flow: | Slow moving water flow |
| Filter: | Filter is needed |
| Water Heater: | Water Heater is needed |
| Lighting: | Yes because they are tropical fish |
Angelfish water requirements
In the wild, angelfish reside in soft and acidic water but in captivity they can accept a wide range of water parameters. Freshwater angelfish prefer pH levels of 6.0 to 7.5pH and can tolerate tank water hardness between 54 to 145 ppm. You will probably need a heater as they require water temperatures of 75° to 82° F.
What do Angelfish Eat?
Angelfish are omnivores, most angelfish would normally eat small fish, worms, small crustaceans, and insects in their natural habitat. But in an aquarium setting they will accept almost all types of food. You can feed them pellets, flakes, frozen food, or live foods like baby brine shrimp, mealworms, and bloodworms.
When it comes to feeding, try to provide them a varied diet of live and frozen foods. For their meal time, try to feed them what they can consume in 2 minutes.
Angelfish Suitable Tankmates
The ideal tank mates for angelfish are similarly sized fish with calm and timid nature. Angelfish tend to do great as community fish when provided with the right conditions. Some suitable tank mates for angelfish are peaceful fish like corydoras, rainbowfish, tetras, rasboras, and gouramis to name a few.
It is worth noting that even with the right tankmates, enough space should still be provided. Inadequate aquarium size might make them more territorial and aggressive to other fish. If you want to learn more about suitable tankmates for angelfish, I have this angelfish tankmates guide that you can check out.
Are angelfish aggressive?
Angelfish can exhibit aggression and territorial behavior to other community fish and even to other angelfish. This behavior is more noticeable when an adult angelfish is stressed, breeding, or spawning. It’s best to avoid housing them with smaller fish and aggressive species of fish.
Can you keep angelfish alone?
Angelfish can live alone but they are better suited as a pair or in a group with 5 or 6 angelfish. If you don’t have enough space for additional tankmates, it’s okay to keep them alone.
Can you breed angelfish?
Angelfish can be bred in captivity but it can be challenging for beginner aquarists. You’re going to need a dedicated breeding tank and provide the right conditions for angelfish breeding.
If you’re interested in breeding angelfish, I made a detailed guide about angelfish breeding that might help you.
Conclusion
Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed this article. Feel free to share it with your friends or fellow aquarist in the freshwater aquarium hobby.
If you want to read more about angelfish, heck out this angelfish care guide or this article about the saltwater emperor angelfish.
