Freshwater angelfish

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{{Taxobox | color = pink |

THE PHOTO IS NOT P ALTUM !! IT IS P SCALARE --68.252.227.144 23:02, 3 February 2006 (UTC) | name = Freshwater angelfish | image = Angelfish023.jpg | image_width = 220px | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Chordata | classis = Actinopterygii | ordo = Perciformes | familia = Cichlidae | genus = Pterophyllum | genus_authority = Heckel, 1840 | binomial = Pterophyllum altum | binomial_authority = (Pellegrin, 1903) | binomial2 = Pterophyllum leopoldi | binomial2_authority = (Gosse, 1963) | binomial3 = Pterophyllum scalare | binomial3_authority = (Lichtenstein, 1823) }} Freshwater angelfish are cichlids that originate around the Amazon River basin with a striking, compressed body shape and long extended dorsal and anal fins. The fish are taller than they are long. Angels that are longer than they are tall are the victims of poor aquarium maintenance and have grown poorly. There are three recognized species, all belonging to the genus Pterophyllum.

For aquarium breeding, the angelfish is a bad parent compared to many other cichlids, and quite often eats its young. The eggs are deposited on a bare rock, root or large leaf of some water plant, and the young are cared for by both parents.

However, when the breeding attempt is successful the parents keep close watch on the eggs until they become free swimming. Once they begin swimming the parents will clean them by sucking them into their mouths and spitting them out. Fry can be fed baby brine shrimp; frozen or fresh.

Angelfish inhabit slow waters in the Amazon region. Its shape allows it good protection among roots and plants, often on a vertical surface. It the wild it eats small fish and is no danger to most other fish in an aquarium, however if a tankmate will fit into its mouth there is a good chance the angelfish will try to eat it.

£== P. scalare == The best known species of Angelfish is Pterophyllum scalare. Its natural color is silvery with three brownish vertical stripes. It is very peaceful and a popular aquarium fish. Numerous decorative breeds exist, with varying color patterns and extended fins. P. scalare, like all angel fish, comes from slow moving sections of rivers in the amazon basin. Angel fish also do not inhabit dense vegetation except when very young, when they school together and hide in vegetation for protection. Adults are much more frequently found amongst sunken driftwood where very few plants grow. They spawn on broad-leaved sword plants in the wild, and prefer broad leaved plants to spawn in an aquarium, if available. Its maximum size is around 12–15 cm (up to 6 inches) length, up to 20 cm (8 in.) height- although exceptional husbandry on the part of the owner can produce an angel up to nine inches in rare instances. These Angelfish prefer water with a 6.0–8.0 pH,with 6.5-7.4 being ideal. a water hardness of 5.0–13.0 dGH, and a temperature range of 24–30°C (75–86°F). Average lifespan in an Aquarium is 10 years, but there have been reported instances of individuals living twice as long. Freshwater angelfish are piscivores, meaning that they eat other fish. In the wild angels sit just below the surface, waiting to lunge at unaware small fish that pass above them in the twilight of the early morning and late evening. However, in an aquarium, their predilection for laziness sets in and they rapidly show preference for slow moving processed food rather than having to run down larger, harder to chew live fish. They are safe to keep with all but the tiniest of fish. Even an angel that has never seen a neon tetra might eat a small one just out of instinct.

Image:Freshwater angelfish biodome.jpg

1 Angelfish breeds
2 P. altum
3 P. leopoldi
4 See also
5 References

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Angelfish breeds

P. scalare has been bred and crossbred for several decades. There are numerous breeds and strains available to collectors these days. Many of the breeds are bred for the fin shapes, scale textures and colors. There are also "Veil" and "Super Veil" angels. These are angels that have been bred to have exceptionally long fins. Among Angel varieties are:

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P. altum

The Pterophyllum altum Angelfish species originates from rivers in the Amazon River basin where the upper Negro River drains, and from the Orinoco River basin. Its natural color is also silvery with three brownish vertical stripes. Some of the largest Angelfish are of this species, growing up to 18 cm (7 in) long and 25cm (10 in) These Angelfish prefer water with a 4.8–6.2 pH, a water hardness of 1.0–5.0 dGH, and a temperature range of 27–31°C (81–88°F). Unlike Scalare (mentioned above) which prefer to spawn on broad leaved plants, Altum angels prefer to spawn on driftwood. Altum angels are true blackwater fish. In the wild they come from water that is so stained with tanins from detrius such as decaying peatmoss and driftwood that it is a dark brown and visibility is only a few inches. If you have ever seen neon or cardinal tetras (Paracheirodon innesi and axelrodi) they come from similar conditions. The fluorescent blue striping on their sides is meant to let them see eachother in these dim conditions. At night the colors turn off and the fish becomes grey, concealing it from predators.

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P. leopoldi

The Pterophyllum leopoldi is a river dwelling Angelfish species that originates from rivers in the Amazon River basin along the Solimões River, Amazon River, and Rupununi River. Available in the hobby, this fish is difficult for most people to discern from P. scalare. For this reason, it is rarely appropriately labeled in North America. Often it is only available to the hawkeyed hobbyist, able to fish out a leopoldi that somehow made it into a shipment of scalare.

Image:Pterophyllum.jpg

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