Freshwater Angelfish

Facts: Freshwater angelfish are beautiful fish that are popular as pets in aquariums across the world.



Here are some interesting freshwater angelfish facts. Freshwater angelfish is an exotic tropical fish which belongs to the Cichlid family and has a lifespan of about 10 to15 years. The freshwater angelfish is round and flat like a disc, and has triangular fins. Its original name is ‘Pterphyllum scalare’, which means ‘winged leaf’ or a ‘flight of stairs’.



It is so called because the fish is leaf-shaped and its dorsal fins are graduated like a flight of steps.

There are almost 100 species of freshwater and sea-water angelfish, and they are usually found in the warm waters of the Amazon River in Brazil, Columbia and Peru. They prefer to inhabit flooded forests and swamps with dense vegetation, where there is plenty of food, as well cover for protection. These species have crossbred over the years and they are now found in colors as varied as black laced marble, gold or ghost and gold marble.



The height of an average angelfish is about 6 inches.

Both sexes of the angelfish look alike, and it is possible to make out the difference only at breeding time. Female angelfish lay around a thousand eggs on the surface of rocks and plants. The eggs are carefully guarded and hatch within 24 to 36 hours. The baby fish live on the plants and feed on them for 4 to 5 days. After that the mother moves them to shallow pits where they can be fed with small sea organisms, such as roftiers.

Angelfish in aquariums: Freshwater angelfish can be kept in aquariums, but they need proper care. It is usually the smaller species of angelfish such as the Centropyge, which are preferred for aquariums. People love to keep angelfish, not only because they look attractive, but they are also said to recognize their owners. They are between 4 to 6 inches in height.

Here are some tips on freshwater angelfish care so that your fish remains healthy and happy. Angelfish prefer warm water. Keep the temperature of the aquarium water between 74 degrees to 84 degrees Celsius. Since they originally lived in river water, they prefer soft water. Ensure that the pH level of the water is between 6 to 7.5. Freshwater angelfish are natural carnivores. You can feed them on small fish, insect larvae, brine shrimps, insects, black worms and bloodworm. They can also be fed on guppies, which can be kept in the aquarium. You can feed your angelfish fresh or frozen food or in the form of flakes which are available at pet stores.