Angelfish are well-known for their vibrant colors and graceful appearance, making them one of the most popular freshwater species in aquarium hobby. Their graceful swimming technique and broad, triangular fins make them the focal point of any tank, capturing the viewer’s attention with their inherent beauty.
These fish have a wide range of hues and patterns, from vivid reds and blues to shimmering silvers and blacks. Because of this variety, aquarists can create an environment that is visually striking regardless of whether they prefer a lively, colorful display or a calm, monochromatic look.
Apart from their attractive appearance, angelfish are valued for their calm disposition, which qualifies them for community aquariums. Nevertheless, the rewarding experience of owning them is enhanced by the special care that is necessary due to their unique needs and behaviors.
Angelfish Type | Description |
Marble Angelfish | Known for their striking black and white patterns, these fish add a dramatic touch to any aquarium. |
Gold Angelfish | With their bright golden color, these angelfish bring a warm, sunny feel to the tank. |
Black Angelfish | Elegant and mysterious, these angelfish are a standout with their deep black coloration. |
Koi Angelfish | These fish resemble koi with their orange, white, and black patches, offering a unique look. |
Veil Angelfish | Characterized by their long, flowing |
- Common angelfish
- Other types of angelfish
- Leopold"s angelfish
- Altum
- Blue Angel
- Diamond
- Manacapuru
- Platinum
- Pearl
- Golden
- Marbled
- Bicolor
- Leopard
- Birch
- Striped
- Red devil
- Green angel
- Pink
- Black
- Blue
- Red
- Dantum albino
- Paraiba
- Koi
- Jacobin
- Rio Nanai
- Dwarf
- Veil angelfish
- Compatibility of angelfish of different subspecies
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Common angelfish
Pterophyllum’s most well-known variety is the common angelfish. Its elongated fins, pointed at the ends, and high, laterally compressed body are typical of this genus.
The eyes are red, and the scales are painted a silvery-gray that shimmers with blue. Four stripes span the entire body, the first of which runs through the eyes and the last of which runs along the caudal fin’s surface.
The fish’s emotional and physical states have an impact on the intensity of the color of its stripes.
The anal and dorsal fins are stepped, and the ventral fin has a mustache-like appearance.
It is challenging to tell males and females apart. The pointed and narrow vas deferens that appears in males is the only way to distinguish the difference during reproduction.
Angelfish are an excellent option for any aquarist wishing to add color and vibrancy to their aquarium because of their amazing array of colors and patterns. They’re a popular choice for novices and seasoned enthusiasts alike because of their elegant appearance and comparatively simple maintenance. Angelfish have the ability to change any tank into a vibrant and lovely underwater scene with their unusual shapes and eye-catching colors.
Other types of angelfish
Finding natural angelfish varieties for sale is not that simple. However, breeders have produced a wide variety of "angels" over time.
Artificial species of "angels" have different body colors and fin shapes. Typically, they are separated into multiple groups:
- spotted;
- striped;
- long-finned;
- solid.
While some have been around for decades, others were only recently bred.
Leopold"s angelfish
Pterophyllum Leopold, so named in honor of Belgian King Leopold III, is one of the natural species. This species can be identified by its smallest size, which is no more than 15 cm in length. However, the longer front portion was the cause of acquiring the additional moniker "long-nosed."
Leopold has a fairly subdued coloring, with a body the color of chestnut and barely perceptible stripes. The proportionate fins are lilac in color.
Altum
Pterophyllum altum is a large species of angelfish, also known as High or High-bodied, High-finned.
The body rises to a height of roughly 50 cm. The scales are the same color as an ordinary angelfish, but they are more vivid and distinct.
The Orinoco River basin is the only habitat for high-finned angelfish.
The characteristics listed below set Altum apart from other species:
- high body and fins;
- protruding head;
- saddle-shaped depression between the forehead and mouth;
- small scale size.
Three dark brownish stripes, slightly shaded, run vertically around the fish’s silvery body.
Individuals that are captured in the wild are mostly sold. It is extremely uncommon to find bred fry in captivity.
Blue Angel
"Blue Angel" fish are named for their deep blue color. Those without dark stripes are the most highly prized individuals. The transparent fins have a blue hue as well.
Diamond
Diamond is the name given to scaleares with silvery tones. Pterophyllum scalare diamond’s scales gleam in the light like real diamonds. The clear fins serve as an extra ornament.
Goldfish and diamond angelfish are related. This species helps to eradicate new "angels" breeds.
Manacapuru
The characteristics of the angelfish that inhabit the Brazilian reservoirs of Manacapuru are comparable to those of common "angels." In childhood, it is particularly challenging to tell them apart. But as they get older, the distinctions stand out more.
This species’ nose is longer, its males’ frontal sections lack the recognizable "hump," and its fins do not bend back.
The fish’s body is striped in three different colors—three pale and one brilliant black. A border of orange surrounds the fins’ edges.
The fish’s back is colored red, and its body is covered in silvery scales. Manacapuru is used to breed morphs with a red tint because of this feature.
Platinum
The platinum angelfish is one of the common angelfish’s selective varieties. Its noble scale color, which resembles silver steel, is how it got its name.
The fish in this species lack the dark stripes found on the bodies of most other species.
Pearl
The pearl color of angelfish is the result of a recessive gene. Light scales that shimmer with silver highlights set pearl angelfish apart. The highlights are less valuable on darker people because they are not visible.
Golden
Golden-tinted pearl scales devoid of typical stripes set this species apart from its wild progenitor. The shorter fins are transparent because they do not contain pigment. The gold angelfish has a large body that can reach a length of 25 to 26 cm.
Marbled
Angelfish appear marbled due to the various sized and shaped silver and black spots covering their scales.
Due to their smaller size compared to standard specimens, marbled fish are kept in smaller aquariums.
Bicolor
Scalare bicolor (bicolor) cichlids are among the most peculiar and uncommon of all the cichlid species. These fish are the same size and form as regular ones, but they lack the recognizable stripes.
There is a distinct border between the two colors used to paint the body—black and silver—at the base of the tail. People’s bodies are light in the front and dark in the back.
Leopard
The fish’s body is evenly covered in black and silver spots that give the appearance of a predatory cat. The leopard angelfish moniker was given to the angelfish because of its coloring.
Birch
The angelfish’s characteristic dark stripes that run vertically across its silvery body give it a birch tree-like appearance. This explains the origin of the species’ name, birch angelfish.
Striped
The zebra-named striped cichlid is named for its numerous bright transverse stripes.
Their number of stripes, which set them apart from the natural species, is significantly greater and their expression is brighter than that of the "zebra."
Red devil
Due to the intense red color of its body, one of the red angelfish varieties that was created by breeding red-headed cichlids (koi) was dubbed the "Red Devil."
After one year of life, the fish turns bright red. The fish’s diet is supplemented with food that intensifies its color to achieve this.
The most costly specimens lack multicolored spots and stripes. The fins have a golden color applied to them.
Green angel
One of the rare varieties of angelfish, also known as the "Green Angel," is a greenish-colored fish. These people don’t have the typical stripes. Rather, the body is dotted with elongated patches.
Similar to the scales, the fins shimmer green and turn emerald in the light. It is advised to add enzyme dyes to the food in order to maintain the color.
Pink
The geneticists at Glofish, a company that specializes in creating new artificial species of aquarium fish, are responsible for the creation of pink angelfish.
When exposed to UV light from lamps, pink people glow intensely and turn purple.
Black
After many trials, American breeders in Detroit were able to produce a new variety of cichlids in 1957: the "Black Velvet" angelfish, also known as the Ludwig angelfish. This subspecies of fish is distinguished by its solid black coloration, devoid of any silver or light spots.
Blue
Ken Kennedy, a Filipino aquarist, succeeded in isolating the angelfish blue gene. He conducted research on crossing platinum fish with other species in an effort to solidify this trait. This led to the discovery of the blue angelfish, a new species of cichlid.
The "Pinoy" angelfish is the most well-known of these species. These creatures have only one shade of blue painted on their bodies and fins.
Red
There were several steps involved in getting red angelfish. Koi angelfish with black, yellow, and red spots on their bodies were initially bred by breeders. Individuals with reddish-scales were among them. Fish with a reddish color were obtained through crossbreeding.
Carotenoids are added to the fish’s food to preserve the red color of its scales.
Dantum albino
The albino form of cichlids, Dantum albino (Dantum Skalare albino), descended from the Peruvian Rio Nanay angelfish.
With its long, wide fins, this white fish with red eyes is much larger than an average angelfish. Albinos are forced to stay out of the light because they lack melanin, which protects the skin and eyes. These creatures are only at ease in aquariums that are partially shaded by rocks, plants, and snags.
Paraiba
The paraiba, or phantom, is one of the artificially bred species of angelfish. This name was given due to the presence of a double gene for asexuality.
The fins of paraiba and regular angelfish differ in that the former have straight, caudal and anal fins, while the latter have curves. The fish’s body is covered in glowing scales that have a bluish silver color.
Koi
Koi angelfish are white "angels" with black and yellow spots all over their bodies, similar to the color of koi carp.
The spots have red paint on their heads and backs. Everybody has a unique pattern that defines them.
Jacobin
Jacobin is one of the graceful and exotic species of scales. varies in a heart-shaped, short body. Compared to his brothers, Jacobin has larger fins. As a result, the fish’s body appears more vertically elongated.
Any color can be a Jacobin. There are white, black, and silver people. The shape of the tail fin can be either veilic or conventional.
Rio Nanai
One of the natural forms of scalaries, known as the Peruvian Krasnotchachny or Rio-Nanai, originated in the north of Peru in the Nanai River. The fish got its name because of the reddish-brown spots that covered parts of its light silver body.
The Peruvian individuals’ bodies have spots in addition to four thin, dark stripes that cross them vertically. There are turquoise dots all over the gill surface.
Dwarf
Angelfish can sometimes stop growing as a result of feeding mistakes or noncompliance with maintenance requirements. Dwarf is the new form that results from this. Mini-angels and regular angelfish share the same exterior.
Veil angelfish
One of the most beautiful varieties of angelfish are fish with a veil-shaped body. The size and form of their fins distinguish members of this species from one another.
Long, translucent fins have a striking appearance. Furthermore, the caudal fin’s ray ends become lush brushes, and the dorsal fins have a slight curvature.
Some of the individuals are longer than 15 cm because of the enlarged tail portion. Both the upper and lower fins are fairly tall and do not swing back and forth while in motion.
Train angelfish of various colors were created as a result of crossing representatives of this form with fish of different colors.
Compatibility of angelfish of different subspecies
An angelfish is a peaceful, non-aggressive fish. It only exhibits an aggressive state when reproducing.
Fish compatibility is influenced by the aquarium’s volume. More neighbors can be added to the "angels" the larger the tank. However, keeping small fish with angelfish is not recommended because the former could attract members of the cichlid family.
However, because of their long fins, "angels" are vulnerable to attacks from other locals. Pecilia, tetras, catfish, ancistrus, corydoras, and mesonauts are all friendly to angelfish.
In one aquarium, relatives of the same species that are similar in terms of color and age get along well together, with the exception of individuals who are not in a pair. Aggression from the "boys" is a possibility if there are more male students than female students in the school.
Young specimens cannot be added to "angels" because they may starve to death. Younger brothers won’t get food, and adult brothers are more nimble.
Angelfish are an interesting addition to any aquarium due to their unusual appearance and behavior. All you have to do is adhere to the guidelines for maintaining "angels," omitting tense circumstances. The fish can live for ten years or longer if given the right care.
Angelfish provide an amazing display of colors and patterns, making them a lively and captivating addition to any aquarium. Aquarists can create a truly unique underwater environment that reflects their personal preferences and style thanks to their wide range.
Angelfish are a great option for both novice and seasoned aquarists because they are relatively easy to care for. These fish can flourish and bring years of life and beauty to your aquarium with the right care and attention.
Adding angelfish to your tank not only makes it look better, but it also gives your aquatic area a peaceful, fascinating feeling. Angelfish are a delightful option for any fish enthusiast, whether their striking appearance or graceful movements pique your interest.