Species Profile | Images | Breeding Report | Similar Species


How to look after
Pterophyllum scalare
Angel Fish
Lichenstein, 1823

Pterophyllum scalare - Angel Fish - There are many angelfish cultivars; this is the half-black
There are many angelfish cultivars; this is the half-black
more images here

(Other members of the genus Pterophyllum)

ADULT SIZE: 15 cm

WATER CONDITIONS: Moderately soft and acidic

TEMPERATURE RANGE: 24-28 C

FOOD: Feed Pterophyllum scalare live and dried foods

DISTRIBUTION: This species comes from Brazil, Ecuador, Peru

AQUARIUM CARE: A very well-known and easy to care for species. Thrives in a large tank, with a good varied diet. Several different colour forms have been cultivated: black, white, gold, silver, orange, and mixtures of all of these(see the images for some examples). Generally peaceful, although a little more aggressive when spawning.

The angelfish thrives along the Amazon river, and up its tributaries. It lives amongst dense vertical roots where the stripes of the wild-type fish give it perfect camouflage. An aquarium set-up should be well planted at the edges, but also have roots or driftwood, and an open area for swimming. Best kept with peaceful tankmates; other Amazonian species such as tetras are ideal. Avoid fish with any tendancy to fin-nip.

BREEDING: Breeding is possible, with adult pairs spawning on a pre-cleaned leaf, or stone. As with many cichlids, the parents will guard their fry. If spawning takes place in a community aquarium, it is better to remove the spawning site to a seperate rearing tank, as other fish will eat the larvae.

Have you bred Pterophyllum scalare? Why not fill in a breeding questionaire?, or examine existing Pterophyllum scalare breeding reports

LINKS:
fishbase

Similar species to Pterophyllum scalare

Other members of the genus Pterophyllum

Other cichlid species

Other species from Brazil, Ecuador, Peru

Pterophyllum scalare
Angel Fish

There are many angelfish cultivars; this is the half-black

There are many angelfish cultivars; this is the half-black

This is the golden strain of angelfish

This is the golden strain of angelfish

The Marble Angel is one of the most hardy strains

The Marble Angel is one of the most hardy strains

Angel fish cultivars are more widely available than the wild type fish. This is an "orange face" angel.

Angel fish cultivars are more widely available than the wild type fish. This is an "orange face" angel.

A Gold angelfish in front of a spawning cone; these act as a substrate on which discus and angelfish can spawn

A Gold angelfish in front of a spawning cone; these act as a substrate on which discus and angelfish can spawn


Pterophyllum scalare
Angel Fish
breeding notes

BREEDING: Breeding is possible, with adult pairs spawning on a pre-cleaned leaf, or stone. As with many cichlids, the parents will guard their fry. If spawning takes place in a community aquarium, it is better to remove the spawning site to a seperate rearing tank, as other fish will eat the larvae.

Have you bred Pterophyllum scalare? Why not fill in a breeding questionaire?


This page summarises breeding reports provided by visitors to this site, along with some statistical analysis. Please feel free to contribute - whatever your experience!

8 breeders have filled in breeding reports, a summary of the results are shown in the graphs below. You can read the full reports here.

To add details of your experiences of Pterophyllum scalare, why not fill in a Breeding and maintenance Report.

Would Pterophyllum scalare be a good addition to a community tank?
graph1
  1. Never
  2. Doubtful, only with VERY calm fish
  3. Only with species of similar size
  4. Yes, a good community fish

How would you describe the disposition of Pterophyllum scalare?
graph2
  1. Very timid
  2. Slightly timid
  3. Neutral
  4. Somewhat aggresive on occasions
  5. Very aggressive

In which water conditions do you keep these fish?
graph3
  1. Very soft and acidic
  2. Moderately soft and acidic
  3. Neutral
  4. Moderately hard and alkaline
  5. Very hard and alkaline

At what average temperature?
graph4
  1. 10-15°C
  2. 16-19°C
  3. 20-23°C
  4. 24-27°C
  5. 28°C+

What, if any is the biggest difficulty encountered when breeding these fish?
graph5
  1. Poor egg production
  2. Poor egg survival
  3. Poor fry survival rate
  4. Deformities
  5. Skewed sex ratio

How would you describe sex ratios when breeding Pterophyllum scalare? If you are unsure please leave this question unanswered.
graph6
  1. Almost all males
  2. Somewhat male heavy
  3. Roughly equal
  4. Somewhat female heavy
  5. Almost all females

In general, how difficult is Pterophyllum scalare to keep and breed?
graph7
  1. Very easy
  2. Easy
  3. Average
  4. Difficult
  5. Very difficult

How sucessful have you been at breeding Pterophyllum scalare?
graph8
  1. Very unsucessful
  2. Fairly unsucessful
  3. Average
  4. Fairly sucessful
  5. Very sucessful


Remember, each record represents only one persons experience; if you had different results, or used different methods, please share your experiences


Water conditions: Moderately soft and acidic Water temperature: 24-27oC
Disposition: Somewhat aggresive on occasions Community tank?: Yes, a good community fish
Spawning Method: Other (see below)Breeding problems:
Deformities
Sex ratio: Breeding difficulty: Very easy
Sucess: Very unsucessfulYears Experience: 6
Other Comments: Slate or leaf with eggs removed from parents tank after the eggs were fertilized. Methaline blue in a small rearing tank until start swimming. Frequent large water changes after that and moving the fry to bigger tanks as they get bigger. Largest hatch I have had is about 500 that made it to juveniles. Average hatch size to juveniles (when I start selling or trading them) is 30-80.
Date this record created: 13th July 2020Breeding date: 2020
Breeder: Location: United States

Water conditions: Moderately soft and acidic Water temperature: 24-27oC
Disposition: Somewhat aggresive on occasions Community tank?: Only with species of similar size
Spawning Method: Other (see below)Breeding problems:
Poor fry survival rate
Sex ratio: Roughly equalBreeding difficulty: Easy
Sucess: Fairly sucessfulYears Experience: 3
Other Comments: They start their breeding when the water temperature changes a little bit (when cleaning) first they search a good enough leaf which they polish until it's clean. then they lay their eggs on this leaf. which they will guard en keep clean. they protect the babies by taking them in the mouth en when the danger clears they spit out the baby fish
Date this record created: 27th October 2012Breeding date: 2010
Breeder: Location:

Water conditions: Very soft and acidic Water temperature: 28oC+
Disposition: Somewhat aggresive on occasions Community tank?: Only with species of similar size
Spawning Method: Peat (or similar) spawning substrateBreeding problems:
Poor egg survival
Sex ratio: Breeding difficulty: Average
Sucess: Very unsucessfulYears Experience: 1
Other Comments:
Date this record created: 24th June 2012Breeding date: 2012
Breeder: Location: Belgium

Water conditions: Moderately hard and alkaline Water temperature: 24-27oC
Disposition: Community tank?: Yes, a good community fish
Spawning Method: Adult fish removed from tankBreeding problems:
Poor fry survival rate
Sex ratio: Almost all malesBreeding difficulty: Difficult
Sucess: AverageYears Experience: 1
Other Comments:
Date this record created: 27th October 2011Breeding date: 2011
Breeder: Location:

Water conditions: Moderately soft and acidic Water temperature: 24-27oC
Disposition: Slightly timid Community tank?: Only with species of similar size
Spawning Method: Other (see below)Breeding problems:
Deformities
Sex ratio: Roughly equalBreeding difficulty: Average
Sucess: AverageYears Experience: 3
Other Comments:
Date this record created: 10th May 2011Breeding date: 2010
Breeder: Location:

Water conditions: Moderately soft and acidic Water temperature: 24-27oC
Disposition: Somewhat aggresive on occasions Community tank?: Yes, a good community fish
Spawning Method: Adult fish removed from tankBreeding problems:
Poor fry survival rate
Sex ratio: Roughly equalBreeding difficulty: Easy
Sucess: Fairly sucessfulYears Experience: 1
Other Comments: The first couple spawned on the algae scraper in the community tank shortly after a 25 percent water change. Removed the scraper to a 35 liter breeding tank with the parents. They took great care of the eggs and young fry. Fry are able to consume newly hatched baby brine shrimp when they are all at free swimming stage (about a week after spawning) until when they rely on their own yolk sack.
Date this record created: 3rd March 2011Breeding date: 2011
Breeder: CeyhunLocation: Istanbul

Water conditions: Moderately soft and acidic Water temperature: 24-27oC
Disposition: Somewhat aggresive on occasions Community tank?: Yes, a good community fish
Spawning Method: Long term (fry appear with adults)Breeding problems: none
Sex ratio: Roughly equalBreeding difficulty: Very easy
Sucess: Very sucessfulYears Experience: 20
Other Comments:
Date this record created: 30th December 2009Breeding date: 2009
Breeder: Location:

Water conditions: Neutral Water temperature: 28oC+
Disposition: Somewhat aggresive on occasions Community tank?: Yes, a good community fish
Spawning Method: Breeding problems:
Poor egg survival
Sex ratio: Almost all malesBreeding difficulty: Easy
Sucess: Very unsucessfulYears Experience: 3
Other Comments: I just let them be themselves in a heavily planted tank. The eggs were not removed, so the other fish ate them. This happened 6-7 times in the first 2.5 years. ( 3boys, 1girl)90gal.,27.5degrees
Date this record created: 25th October 2008Breeding date: 2007
Breeder: Location:

Have a look at some of these related sites

killifish information
paludarium information