An iconic, diamond-shaped South American cichlid with tall, trailing fins. Graceful and personable, but its adult size and mild territoriality make it a step up from true beginner fish.
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Around 6 in (15 cm) long but up to 8-10 in (20-25 cm) tall fin-to-fin.
Lifespan
8–12 years
Social needs
group
Native region
Amazon Basin, South America
Origin
New World
Climate
🌴 Tropical
Water type
💧 Freshwater
Family
Cichlidae
Genus
Pterophyllum
Part of the Cichlids
Cichlids are a large, behaviorally complex family of freshwater fish prized for color, intelligence, and elaborate parental care. They range from peaceful dwarfs to highly territorial Rift Lake and Central American species, and most demand stable water chemistry and thoughtful tankmate selection.
From the minimum an animal needs to be kept humanely, up to the ideal setup. Bigger is almost always better — minimums are floors, not targets.
Photo coming soon
Minimum
Tall pair tank
55 gal / 208 L tall planted
Pterophyllum scalare reaches 6 in long and 8 in tall. 55-gal tall (24 in+ height) is a strict minimum for a pair — they need vertical space. Soft slightly acidic water, driftwood, plants, peaceful tankmates only.
Photo coming soon
Recommended
Planted display pair
75 gal / 284 L tall planted
75-gal tall planted with a bonded pair or small group of juveniles (pairs form naturally), Amazon swords for spawning, driftwood, and peaceful Amazon tankmates.
Ideal
Amazon biotope display
100 gal+ / 379 L+ tall biotope
Tall Amazon biotope (100-gal+) with sword plants, driftwood, leaf litter, soft acidic water, and a pair plus appropriate dither schoolers. Stunning natural display.
mendel / CC BY-SA 1.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
Photo coming soon
Egg
Fish eggs are small, translucent spheres, often laid in clutches on plants, substrate, or in a nest — or carried/brooded by a parent in livebearing and mouth-brooding species. A dark eye spot and the curled embryo become visible inside as development progresses.
Photo coming soon
Fry
Newly hatched fry are tiny and semi-transparent, frequently still carrying a yolk sac that fuels them before they feed freely. They lack full fin structure and adult coloration, staying near cover until they can swim and forage on their own.
Photo coming soon
Juvenile
Juveniles look like miniature adults but with developing fins and muted or different markings; many species shift pattern and color as they mature. Growth is rapid at this stage given clean water and steady feeding.
Adult
Adults show the species' full size, finnage, and mature coloration, and are sexually mature. Many fish develop sex-specific differences in size, color, or fin shape, which can intensify during breeding.
Color & pattern variants
Natural variants occur in the wild; selectively bred (man-made) variants were developed in captivity.
Angelfish need a tall aquarium to accommodate their elongated body and fins. A bonded pair can be kept in a 29-gallon tall tank, while a small group of 4-6 does best in a 55-gallon (or larger) aquarium at least 18-20 inches high. Provide tall plants, driftwood, and vertical structures such as broad leaves or slate, which double as spawning surfaces, plus open water for swimming.
Keep the water warm and stable: 76-84°F (24-29°C), pH 6.0-7.5, and soft to moderately hard water (around 5-13 dGH). Wild-type fish appreciate gentle flow and tannin-stained, dimly lit conditions, while tank-bred strains tolerate a wider range. Angelfish are sensitive to sudden swings in temperature or chemistry, so consistent water changes and a cycled, mature tank are essential.
Substrate
Use fine to medium sand or smooth rounded gravel; angelfish forage along the bottom and appreciate a darker substrate that brings out their color. Pair with broad-leaved plants like Amazon swords and tall driftwood or vertical slate they can use as spawning sites.
Equipment & setup
Keep a tall tank of at least 30 gallons (55+ for a group) with a gentle filter such as a sponge or baffled hang-on-back to avoid strong current, and a heater set to 78-82F. Soft-to-moderate water and moderate planted-tank lighting suit them best.
Diet
Angelfish are opportunistic omnivores. Offer a quality cichlid or tropical flake/pellet as a staple, supplemented with frequent meaty foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia, and blackworms, plus some plant matter (blanched vegetables or spirulina). Feed small amounts once or twice daily.
They will hunt small tankmates and fry, so size feedings to what they finish in a couple of minutes. Conditioning a breeding pair with extra live and frozen foods improves color and spawning readiness.
Behavior & temperament
Angelfish are generally peaceful but are cichlids at heart: they establish a pecking order and become territorial, especially when paired and spawning. Keep them as a group of five or more (so aggression is spread out) or as a single established pair. Avoid housing them with fin-nippers or with tiny fish such as neon tetras, which may be eaten.
They are intelligent and quickly learn to recognize their keeper and beg at feeding time. Enrich them with tall plants, line-of-sight breaks, and stable surroundings; a stressed angelfish clamps its fins and darkens.
Health
Common problems include ich, hexamita/hole-in-the-head (linked to poor water quality and nutrition), fin rot, and bacterial or fungal infections following stress or injury. They are also prone to internal parasites in imported stock. Quarantine new fish, maintain pristine water, and feed a varied diet to prevent most issues.
Because angelfish are tall and slow, they are easily bullied or out-competed for food; watch for clamped fins, faded color, or reluctance to eat as early warning signs.
*This is general care information, not veterinary advice. Consult an aquatic/exotics veterinarian for any sick animal.*
Tips, DIY & hacks
Provide a vertical spawning slate or upright leaf and dim the flow during breeding since pairs lay eggs on flat vertical surfaces. House them in groups of five or more when young so a bonded pair can form, and avoid tiny tankmates like neon tetras that may be eaten.
