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Angel Varieties

Pterophyllum scalare
(ter o fill' um ska lar' e)

Altum

The Altum Angel. Quite rare and exotic. I had one in my tank at home for a long time. The above images are shop taken and show the beautiful lines of this relatively expensive fish for an Angel. However, the elegance of this superb Angel is worth the price tag. Being a bit timid, it can be frightened by shadows and fast movements. This is especially true when first acquired, but once acclimated it is a friendly personable fish. This is considered a community fish, but as it is a cichlid it may not be as sociable with smaller fish. They will school peacefully when they are young, but then they tend to pair off and become more territorial when they are older. Its body is silver with a greenish tint, has four dark broad vertical bars, and a few faint bars. It is also larger than its relative, both in length and in height, and has a steeper forehead. The body is laterally compressed with a distinctive diamond shape and pointed snout. They have oversized extended dorsal and anal fins, these and the tail fin are long and flowing. In mature fish the tail fin can develop streamers on the outside corners. The Pelvic (ventral) fins are very long and delicate.

Silver

This is the normal colouring of wild Angel. The body is white with 4 dark vertical bars running through it. The first passes through the eye, the second usually is in front of the top and bottom fin, the third is usually through the top and bottom fin and the fourth is at the start of the tail fin. There may or may not be faint dark bars running parallel between the darker ones. Some specimens have black speckles over the top half of the body.

Zebra

These are much like the Silvers, but they have more vertical stripes which continue on right through the tail.

Black Lace

Black Lace are the stepping stones to the solid black variety. The main difference between Black Lace and Silvers is the intensity of colour especially on the fins where you will see a lace like effect. In mating 2 Black Lace, you can expect to produce approximately 25% Black, 50% Black Lace and 25% Silver. The Black fry are especially fragile and a lot of times don't survive to free swimming and if they do, should be separated from their more vigorous littermates.

Black

These fish are a solid, velvety black. In mating a Black to a Black Lace you can expect 50% Black and 50% Black Lace and if you mate Black to Black you can expect 100% Black. The shade of this particular Freshwater Angelfish is black with lighter coloration on the fins. A fish in the Genus Pterophyllum, the species originated in South America, and belongs to the Family Cichlidae. Characteristics and living conditions for the Black Angelfish include:

• Minimum Fish Tank Size: 30 gallons is best.
• 75-82 degrees F, pH 5.8-7.0, KH 1-5
• The Freshwater Black Angelfish is semi-aggressive.
• Grows to 6" as an adult.

Half Black

Half Blacks are just that. Their bodies are white in the front and the black cuts right through the top and bottom fins right through the tail.

Veiltail

Veiltail Angels have very elongated fins and come in all color varieties. If a Veil Angel and a Silver are bred, you can expect 50% Veil and 50% Silver. Breed 2 Veils and you can expect 25% ordinary Angels, 50% Veil and 25% Long Tailed Veil which will have even longer fins and tails than the Veil. Breeding 2 Long Tailed Veils will produce 100% Long Tailed Veils, but they are not as hearty nor are the spawns as large. Some Veils have such long fins that they become bent or at worst broken.

Marble

Instead of having the ordinary black bars, these fish have a broken pattern of black and silver that is best described as Marble. In the head and back region there may be undertones of golden while the fins have rays of black and white. A breeding of a Marble with a Black Lace will produce some fry which are Black Lace Marble, having characteristics of both parents.

Golden

Golden's may range from a solid silvery white to a golden colour with no other markings. Over the head and back area is usually a mantle of gold.

 White

I bought this little fellow from the shop. Its white with a yellow face with fragments of bars remaining on its body. It has now grown into a beautiful adult angel with wonderful colouration. I have also seen this named as a Koi Angel. Relative only in colouration characteristics!

Diseases

Angelfish are apparently not as prone to contract the common diseases that other tropical fish are. However, the usual care should be taken to ensure that their habitat is kept as clean and as "friendly" as possible. I once lost two large Angels over 5 years old to a sudden nitrate (or nitrite) attack. The problem was soon cured but alas not the Angels.

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