Freshwater angelfish
Pterophyllum scalare
The freshwater angelfish from the Amazon basin (Peru, Colombia and Brazil) and rivers of the Guianas lives in flooded areas with dense vegetation, in clear or silty water. It eats small fish and invertebrates. It is one of the most popular tropical aquarium fish; it reached Europe in 1909.
- Scientific name
- Pterophyllum scalare
- Family
- Cichlidae
Fact sheet
General
- Water
- Freshwater
- Group
- Fish
Taxonomy
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Order
- Cichliformes
- Synonyms
- Platax scalaris, Plataxoides dumerilii, Pterophillum eimekei, Pterophyllum altum, Pterophyllum dumerilii, Pterophyllum eimekei, Zeus scalaris
Origin
- Native region
- América do Sul
Water
- Temperature
- 24–29.5 °C
- pH
- 6–8
- General hardness (GH)
- 5–13 °dGH
Size and lifespan
- Adult size
- 10.5 cm
Behavior
- Swimming level
- Middle
Reproduction
- Breeding strategy
- Substrate or cave spawner
Conservation and trade
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
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