Angelfish Care

Angelfish are able to remember their companions and their position within the hierarchy. This is something that is usually seen in birds or some mammals.

Angelfish is one of the most popular species in aquariums, although its care is not as well known. In addition, thanks to their distinguished fineness, beauty, colors and shapes, they are among the most coveted and attractive fish to behold. For this reason, its demand has increased steadily, as well as interest in its cultivation, maintenance and sale.

It belongs to the family of cichlids, where it is recognized as scalar fish or ladder, and formally with the scientific name Pterophyllum scalare. If you want to know more about the care of this beautiful organism, keep reading this article.

Characteristics of angelfish

The body of this fish is flattened and almost similar to a rhombus, which can reach up to 15 centimeters in length. Its dorsal and anal fins are quite elongated, and can even be seen as veils that adorn the species.

In addition, it is thanks to these fins that their triangular or "V" shape is emphasized.

Angelfish have different colorations, because the most colorful characteristics were maintained, and their combination was propitiated. It is because of this process of artificial selection, that there is a large number of shades in the species. In fact, they are also considered hybrids, since other species of scalars have been used to obtain new patterns and shapes.

Variants

Although 99% of the scalars sold belong to the species Pterophyllum scalare, it is also possible to find Pterophyllum altum and Pterophyllum leopoldi. The first is known as escalare alto, for reaching 18 centimeters in length, and the second is considered a less stylized hybrid. Both are difficult to keep in captivity, so they are not common in aquariums.

However, it is likely that the specimens sold in aquariums are hybrid individuals and not pure organisms. This is due to the different genetic crosses, which are performed to maintain or modify colors, scales or the shape of their fins.

Therefore, the variants of this fish are classified around the most common in the aquarium, being as follows:

• Koi: white with head and deep orange back.
• Zebra: vertical black lines along the body.
• Blushing: white body, but with red tones on the side edges of its head.
• Silver: silver color with black vertical stripes and reddish eyes.
• Golden: golden tones throughout the body.
• Leopard: gray or silver with dark spots of different sizes.
• Marble: black and white spots on body and fins.

Just because they are the most common does not mean that they are the only ones, there are other different morphotypes that you could find. The search for the most beautiful features is not over yet.

In addition to these, there is also a subclassification focused on the shape of its dorsal and anal fins.

Here are just 4:

• Normal: usual size of fins, triangular in shape.
• Dorsal delta: with the dorsal fin finished in rectangular edge.
• Veil: normal shape, but with larger sizes, almost like a light veil.
• Forked veil: similar to the veil, but with indentations or cuts in the dorsal fin.

Natural habitat and its arrival in aquariums

This type of fish is native to the Amazon basin, where it was first described in 1823. Its natural environment is composed of shallow, calm and well-vegetated bodies of water. In these sites they select areas with good coverage, since it serves them to escape from their predators, hiding among them.

The first specimens of this species arrived in Germany around 1900, however, they were unsuccessful in trying to keep them alive. It is not until 1921 that in Pennsylvania it is possible to care for and reproduce these fish in captivity, beginning with the tireless search for novel morphotypes.

At present these cichlids have lost their survival behaviors, which seems to indicate a process of domestication. According to a study carried out by the University of Sharjah, angelfish have inherited survival behaviors, which in cultivated species have begun to disappear.

Behaviour

This organism is gregarious, which means that it moves in groups of several individuals, with the aim of obtaining protection from predators. In fact, according to a study published in the scientific journal Animal Cognition, these fish are able to select the largest groups, as they represent better benefits for them.

In addition, the specimens of this species maintain social ranges within their groupings. This implies that there is a dominant fish that is more aggressive and behaves a little differently from others. In fact, this alpha tends to be more wary of the risks it takes when investigating new areas.

Although there are aggressions between them, the number of events of this type are minimal, so it can be considered as a shy organism. This is because your best choice will always be escape, while the last one is to attack other fish.

Tank preparation

Like any type of fish, these need good conditions to be able to develop. Therefore, within the main care of the angelfish, is the installation of a suitable tank of at least 200 liters of capacity. Which will be enough to support a pair of scalars.

In addition, since they are somewhat shy organisms, you must have wide-leaved plants, trunks, branches and rocks, which allow them to shelter. This combines perfectly with sand substrates, since it closely resembles its natural habitat.

Also, it is mandatory to consider an efficient filter, since if you intend to keep several fish at once, it will be responsible for buffering the nitrification of the water.

Parameters

Some consider scalars as fish resistant to adverse conditions, however, this only when they are momentary. For this reason, the best recommendation is that you keep the physicochemical conditions of your aquarium stable.

To do this you can be guided by the following parameters:

• Temperature: 26-31 °C.
• Oxygen: 3-5 mg/L.
• pH: 6.8-7.2.
• Ammonium: <0.012 mg/L.
• Hardness: <100 mg/L.
• Water refills: 30-50% per week.

Remember that spare parts must be made with water in conditions similar to those of the aquarium, so you must prepare it in advance.

Care of the angelfish prior to its arrival

Like all fish, before introducing it to the aquarium, it must go through an acclimatization process. This consists of floating the bag of water with which they usually come, inside the aquarium, to achieve that the temperature is equalized. After that, you begin to mix the media filling the bag with aquarium water. This should be done little by little and repeated several times before releasing it into the tank.

It is necessary to remember that this process reduces the stress that is generated when changing habitats. For this reason, it is imperative to ensure the survival of the new pet.

Although, on the other hand, if it is the first time you set up your aquarium you have to carry out the maturation of the tank. This means that you must create the microbiological environment, necessary for the survival of your fish. This process is achieved by adding fish food for a few weeks. However, it is done before introducing your fish, so you should plan it at least a month in advance.

Feeding

Scalar fish are omnivorous organisms, which means they have a wide variety of foods. This includes small invertebrates, algae and crustaceans, such as artemias, spirulina, tenebrios and Daphnia. For this reason, the best recommendation is that your diet consists of live foods, where commercial frozen food (pellets) is occasionally included to vary your diet.

To avoid overfeeding, the best option is to choose to feed them once a day, maximum two. At this point it must be ensured that all specimens consume food, since, due to their hierarchies, some may be excluded or abused by others.

Reproduction

Angelfish are able to spawn several times and throughout the year, which can be taken advantage of if proper care is maintained. To do this, the male courts the couple by extending his dorsal and anal fins, swimming next to it. If the female accepts, she will spawn at the bottom of the tank or on plants that will be fertilized by the male immediately (external fertilization).

The eggs of this species hatch at 8 days of incubation depending on the water temperature. While they will reach their adult state at one month of age, exhibiting all the distinctive features of angelfish.

Common diseases

Angelfish can fall victim to common diseases within freshwater aquariums, so it is necessary to maintain the above care and recommendations. Among the pathological factors we can find viruses, bacteria and fungi, which are the most common.

The viruses that most affect these fish are those of the family Herpesviridae and Rabdoviridae, which produce diseases such as hematopoietic viral necrosis and lymphocysis. Both can seriously affect the specimens, causing slight damage such as reduced growth or becoming fatal.

On the other hand, bacteria are considered the most conflictive group in aquaculture, because they are responsible for a large number of diseases. The main genera we find are Aeromonas, Citrobacter, Edwardsiella, Flavobacterium, Pseudomonas and Vibrio. One of the most common pathologies is hemorrhagic septicemia, which causes ulcers or lesions on the skin, fins and scales.

Finally, yeast infections can be one of the most problematic, but quite simple to avoid. Usually, these pathogens are opportunistic, so if your fish is healthy, you should not be afraid. Microsporidiosis is the largest representative, capable of infecting and generating cysts on the skin of fish.

Remember that having a pet implies an intrinsic responsibility, since they will depend on you throughout their lives. For this reason, if your goal is to have an angelfish, consider all the advice and care. Don't just look for the bare minimum, but also consider the quality of life you'll have. I can assure you, that all the effort is rewarded and worth it.

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