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Angel Varieties
Pterophyllum scalare
(ter o fill' um ska lar' e)
Altum
This is a new variety to me, the Altum
Angel. Quite rare and exotic. I now have one in my tank at home. 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. Image: 08/10/03.
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.
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.
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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