Assorted Angelfish

The angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) comes from the slow, wooded backwaters of the Amazon basin, where its tall, flattened body and long trailing fins let it slip between submerged roots and stems. An assorted group gives you whatever colour forms have come in, which typically covers silver, marble, koi, black, zebra and gold. Whatever the pattern, the fish underneath is the same: a cichlid, not an oversized community tetra, and it behaves accordingly.

Aquarium care

• Needs a tall tank; height matters more than length.
• Grow young fish on in a group and expect pairs to form and claim territory.
• Prefers warm water with driftwood, tall plants and quiet flow.
• Timid about sudden movement and shadows, so a settled position helps.
• Omnivorous: flake, pellets, frozen bloodworm and brine shrimp.
• Long fins are vulnerable to nippers.

Suitable tankmates are corydoras, larger tetras such as black skirts or diamond tetras, rasboras and peaceful catfish. Neon tetras and dwarf shrimp will be eaten by an adult angelfish, and tiger barbs or serpae tetras will damage its fins.

Stock rotates with each shipment, and livestock is sold for local pickup at our Lethbridge store. See the current angel list.