Bony fish · Perciformes · Cichlidae

Angelfish

Pterophyllum scalare

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The freshwater angelfish — known in Spanish as escalar, pez ángel or pez amazónico ángel — is a freshwater fish belonging to the cichlid family. It is one of the most popular tropical fish species in the aquarium world.

Size

12 cm – 15 cm

Lifespan

10 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

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Fun facts

  • Its extremely flattened shape and dark vertical bands make it vanish among stems and roots, whether seen head-on or in profile.
  • It forms stable pairs that clean a leaf or a vertical root before spawning on it and defend the eggs together.
  • It is one of the oldest aquarium fish on the market and has given rise to dozens of colour and fin varieties.
  • Its body, very tall and laterally compressed, with elongated dorsal and anal fins, is camouflage: among vertical stems and roots its silhouette blends into the vegetation.
  • The dark vertical bars complete the effect and, what is more, fade or intensify with the fish's state, which serves as a signal to other members of its species.
  • It forms stable, monogamous pairs that defend the territory together and tend the clutch.
  • Although it measures about 15 cm in length, its height with fins spread can exceed 20, which is why it needs tall aquariums.
  • Almost all specimens in the trade are captive-bred, and they have been selected for so many generations that they scarcely resemble wild ones.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type
Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (fish)
Habitat & environment
Vegetated backwaters and submerged roots of the Amazon basin

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pterophyllum_scalare

Related species

Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Angelfish — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.

Keep exploring

Based on what we already know about angelfish.

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