Angelfish Care Guide
Pterophyllum scalare · Moderate care · 29 gallon minimum
A tall, elegant cichlid centerpiece. Needs height, warmth, and tankmates too big to be eaten.
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How big does a angelfish get?
A angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) reaches about 6.0 inches as an adult. Plan tank size and tank mates around the adult size, not the small fish you buy at the store.
Tank size & setup
Give a angelfish a minimum of 29 gallons, with water at 76–84°F and a pH of 6.5–7.5. As a moderate-care, omnivore species, a stable, cycled tank with the right diet keeps them healthiest.
Good tank mates
Pair a angelfish with peaceful species that share its temperature and pH range. Compatible options include:
- Neon Tetra — 1.5", 10g min
- Guppy — 2.0", 10g min
- Molly — 4.0", 20g min
- Platy — 2.5", 10g min
- Zebra Danio — 2.0", 10g min
About the angelfish
Pterophyllum scalare, most commonly referred to as angelfish or freshwater angelfish, is the most common species of Pterophyllum kept in captivity. It is native to the Amazon Basin in Peru, Colombia, and Brazil. Particularly to the Ucayali river in Peru, the Oyapock River in French Guiana, the Essequibo River in Guyana, the Solimões, the Amapá, and the Amazon rivers in Brazil. It is found in swamps or flooded grounds where vegetation is dense and the water is either clear or silty. Its native waters range from a neutral pH of 7.0 down to near 6.0, with a general water hardness (gH) range of 3 to 10 °dH, and water temperature ranging from 26 to 30 °C. This is the species of angelfish most frequently found in the aquarium trade. A similar P. scalare exists in the Rio Orinoco. They are of the same size and shape, the only difference being the stripes; the Orinoco P. scalare has thinner, but dual, stripes.
Recommended gear for angelfishs
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