Page 143 - Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish, 3rd Edition

CICHLIDS/ANGELFISH 141

Pterophyllum altum

Marbled Black evident Altum Angelfish
patterning on the fins
is highly ORIGINS South America, occurring in Colombia and
individual Venezuela in the central part of the Rio Orinoco.
SIZE 10 in (25 cm).
DIET Prepared foods, vegetable matter, small live foods.
WATER Temperature 82–86°F (28–30°C); soft
(50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.0).
TEMPERAMENT Relatively peaceful, but territorial.
The Altum Angelfish has a much taller body
than the Angelfish itself. It also has a
flattened area above the jaw and
a steeper, less curved profile
Touch-sensitive
pelvic fins leading up to the dorsal fin.
Altum Angelfish can be housed
Golden Marble Angelfish The black “marbling” is more together in groups. As with
extensive in some individuals than others. Gold coloration the Angelfish, this species
is displayed from the top of the head up to the dorsal fin. needs a relatively deep tank to
accommodate its elongated shape.
Altum Angelfish are difficult to
Distinctive breed, but maintaining good water
red area
chemistry may help to encourage
spawning, as may raising the water
temperature slightly and increasing
the amount of live foods in the diet.
Check fish for signs of white spot
(see p.58) before buying and also if water
temperature falls significantly for any period.

THIN AND WEEDY
Triangular
caudal fin
Even coloration Angelfish live in relatively slow-
with no banding flowing, reedy stretches of water, where
their tall, narrow body shape allows
them to weave in and out of the
German Blue Blushing Angelfish First bred in Germany,
this variety has a pale, silvery-blue body color and a vegetation with ease. When danger
contrasting bright-red area below the eyes. threatens, they can dart in
A darker Chocolate form also exists. among the reeds to avoid
detection. Even if they are
spotted and pursued, they have an
Golden coloration
on upper body advantage over larger, bulkier
predators, which cannot move as
swiftly through the mass of
Black
marbling plant stems. A wild
Angelfish’s body stripes
confer a further advantage,
helping to break up the outline of
the fish so that it blends in with
the reed stalks and shadows.
A tank for Angelfish should
contain areas of thick plant
growth into which the fish can
retreat when nervous. Aquatic
Gold Marbled Elongated Amazonian plants with upright leaves,
Veiltail Angelfish rays on the such as the Ruffled Amazon Swordplant
The veiltail caudal fin (Echinodorus major), are ideal for this
characteristic was purpose. Taller Vallisnerias can also be
first recorded in used, because they thrive in the deeper
1956 in Germany. aquariums that adult Angelfish require.

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