Pterophyllum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Freshwater angelfish |
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
 |
|
Scientific classification  |
|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Cichlidae |
| Tribe: | Heroini |
| Genus: | Pterophyllum Heckel, 1840 |
| Type species | |
| Platax scalaris G. Cuvier, 1831
|
|
 |
|
Angelfish are beautiful freshwater fish. They belong to a group called Pterophyllum. Most people know them simply as angelfish. These fish come from the warm rivers of South America. You can find them in places like the Amazon Basin, the Orinoco River, and other rivers in the Guiana Shield.
Angelfish have a special shape. They are very flat from side to side. They have round bodies and long, triangle-shaped fins. This shape helps them hide among plants and roots in the water. Wild angelfish often have stripes. These stripes help them blend in with their surroundings. Angelfish are hunters. They eat small fish and tiny water creatures.
Angelfish are known for being good parents. They form pairs that stay together. They lay their eggs on things like logs or flattened leaves underwater. In an aquarium, they might even lay eggs on filter pipes! Both parents take good care of their young.
It's important not to confuse these freshwater angelfish with marine angelfish. Marine angelfish live in the ocean on coral reefs. They are a different type of fish.
Contents
All About Angelfish: Your Freshwater Friends
What are Angelfish?
Angelfish are part of the Cichlidae family of fish. They are unique because of their flat, round bodies and elegant fins. This body shape helps them hide easily among plants. Their natural stripes also provide excellent camouflage in their river homes. They are active predators, meaning they hunt for their food. They mostly eat small fish and tiny water insects.
Types of Angelfish Species
There are three main types of angelfish that scientists recognize. Each one lives in slightly different parts of South America.
- Pterophyllum altum: These angelfish live in the Orinoco River Basin. You can also find them in the Upper Rio Negro area. This includes parts of Venezuela, Colombia, and northern Brazil.
- Pterophyllum leopoldi: This species is found in the Amazon River. They also live in the Essequibo River and Rupununi River.
- Pterophyllum scalare: Often called the freshwater angelfish, this type lives across the Amazon Basin. You can find them in Peru, Colombia, and Brazil.
A Look Back: Angelfish History
The freshwater angelfish (P. scalare) was first described in 1824. The name Pterophyllum comes from ancient Greek words. "Pteron" means fin or sail, and "phyllon" means leaf. This name perfectly describes their leaf-like shape and fins!
Later, in 1906, P. altum was described. Then, in 1963, P. leopoldi was identified. Scientists are still discovering new fish species in the Amazon. Sometimes, the differences between new species and known ones can be very small. For example, P. leopoldi and P. scalare look quite similar. However, scientists can tell them apart by looking at things like the number of scales and subtle stripe patterns.
Keeping Angelfish in Your Aquarium
Angelfish are one of the most popular fish for home aquariums. People love their unique shape, beautiful colors, and interesting behavior. It took a while for people to learn how to breed angelfish in captivity. This started happening in the United States around the late 1920s or early 1930s.
Popular Angelfish for Aquariums
The most common angelfish you'll find in pet stores is Pterophyllum scalare. Most of these fish were born and raised in aquariums. Sometimes, you might find Pterophyllum altum that were also bred in captivity. Pterophyllum leopoldi is the hardest type to find for sale.
How to Care for Your Angelfish
Angelfish need a warm aquarium. The water should ideally be around 80°F (27°C). They also prefer soft and slightly acidic water, with a pH below 6.5. Even though they are cichlids, angelfish are usually peaceful. However, they might eat very small fish. Good tank mates include armored catfishes from families like Doradidae and Callichthyidae.
Angelfish Reproduction and Life Cycle
P. scalare is fairly easy to breed in an aquarium. However, after many generations of breeding, some angelfish have lost their natural parenting skills. This means they might sometimes eat their own young. It's also very hard to tell male and female angelfish apart until they are ready to breed.
Angelfish partners form long-term relationships. They protect each other from dangers and other fish. If one partner dies, the other might refuse to pair up with any other angelfish again.
Angelfish usually become old enough to breed between six months and a year. If their eggs are removed after spawning, a pair can lay new eggs every seven to ten days. After about three years, they lay eggs less often and eventually stop.
When a pair is ready to breed, they choose a spot to lay their eggs. They spend a day or two cleaning the surface. This spot could be a broad plant leaf, a flat piece of slate, a pipe, or even the aquarium glass. The female lays a line of eggs. Then, the male fertilizes them. They repeat this until they have laid anywhere from 100 to over 1,200 eggs!
Both parents care for the eggs. They take turns fanning the eggs with their fins. This helps water flow around the eggs. In a few days, the eggs hatch. The tiny babies, called fry, stay attached to the surface. They eat the food stored in their yolk sacs. After about a week, the fry start swimming freely. Good parents watch over their fry closely. Once they are free-swimming, you can feed the fry tiny live foods.
P. altum is much harder to breed in an aquarium.
How Long Do Angelfish Live?
With good care and healthy genes, freshwater angelfish can live for about 12 years in an aquarium. In the wild, they might live even longer, up to 15 years, if they are safe from predators.
Angelfish with Other Fish: Tank Mates
In pet stores, angelfish are often called "semi-aggressive." Some tetras and barbs can live with angelfish. But remember, angelfish might eat any fish small enough to fit in their mouth! Always provide plenty of food so your angelfish don't get too hungry.
P. scalare and P. altum are generally peaceful but can be territorial. While angelfish are often suggested for community tanks, some fish, like tiger barbs, might nip at their long fins. Also, angelfish can become more aggressive as they grow. It's often best to keep angelfish in a tank with only other angelfish.
Common Angelfish Health Issues
Just like any pet, angelfish can sometimes get sick. Here are some common problems and how to help them.
White Spot Disease (Ich)
Ich is also known as "white spot disease." It is caused by a tiny parasite. Fish with Ich have small, white spots on their bodies, fins, and gills. These spots look like grains of salt. Infected fish often rub against things in the tank because they are itchy. Ich usually starts when fish are stressed. This can happen from bad water quality, sudden temperature changes, or new fish being added without proper care. To treat Ich, you can slowly raise the aquarium temperature to 78–86°F (26–30°C) for a few days. This speeds up the parasite's life cycle. You can also use special Ich medicines from pet stores.
Fin Rot
Fin rot is a common bacterial infection. It makes a fish's fins look frayed, discolored, and ragged. If not treated, it can spread to the fish's body. Fin rot is usually caused by poor water quality, too many fish in the tank, or injuries. These things stress the fish and make them sick. To treat fin rot, first improve the water quality. Do regular water changes and make sure your filter works well.
Swim Bladder Problems
Swim bladder disease affects a fish's swim bladder. This organ helps fish float. Fish with this problem might float upside-down, sink to the bottom, or swim at strange angles. Many things can cause it, like overfeeding, constipation, quick changes in water temperature, injuries, or infections. To help, first don't feed the fish for 24–48 hours. Then, feed them cooked, skinned peas. This can help with constipation. If a bacterial infection is suspected, special antibiotic treatments might be needed.
Bacterial Infections
Bacterial infections can show up in different ways. They happen when bad bacteria grow too much in the tank. You might see sores, red streaks, bloating, or strange swimming. The fish might also lose its appetite. Poor water quality, crowded tanks, stress, and injuries often cause these infections. Overfeeding can also lead to more waste and bacteria. To treat bacterial infections, always start by improving water conditions. Do regular water changes and clean the filter. You can also use special antibacterial medicines from pet stores. For serious cases, it's a good idea to move the sick fish to a separate tank for treatment.
Amazing Angelfish Varieties
Many of the angelfish you see in pet stores today are special types. They have been bred over many years to create different colors and patterns. Because of this, domestic angelfish often look quite different from their wild relatives. Scientists have studied the genetics of P. scalare to understand these amazing varieties.
- Silver: This type looks most like wild angelfish. It has a silver body with red eyes. It also has three black stripes that can get lighter or darker depending on the fish's mood.
- Gold: Gold angelfish have a light golden body. Their head often has a darker yellow or orange color. They do not have the black stripes or red eyes of the wild angelfish.
- Zebra: Zebra angelfish have four to six vertical stripes. In other ways, they look like silver angelfish.
- Black Lace: This is a silver angelfish with a special gene that creates beautiful lacy patterns on its fins. Many people think these are very attractive.
- Smokey: This variety has a dark brownish-grey back half. Its dorsal and anal fins are also dark.
- Halfblack: Halfblack angelfish are silver in the front and black in the back. This pattern might not show up well if the fish is stressed.
- Sunset Blushing: These angelfish have a mostly white body. The upper half often shows a lovely orange color. Their fins are clear. The name "blushing" comes from their clear gill plates when they are young, which lets you see their pinkish gills underneath.
- Koi: Koi angelfish have a mix of orange and black patterns. The amount of orange can change with their stress levels. The black patterns can cover 5% to 40% of their body.
- Leopard: Young leopard angelfish have spots all over their bodies. As they grow, these spots often merge, making them look like chocolate angelfish with dots.
- Blue Blushing: This angelfish has a grey body with a blue tint under the right light. As they get older, they develop a shiny, iridescent blue color.
- Marble: Marble angelfish have much more black patterning than gold marble types. Their black patterns can cover 50% to 95% of their body.
- Pearlscale: Pearlscale angelfish have unique scales that look wrinkled or wavy. These scales reflect light, creating a sparkling, gem-like effect. This special look develops slowly as the fish grows.
- Albino: Albino angelfish lack dark pigments. Their body colors are lighter, and their eye pupils are pink, like all albino animals. The iris around the pupil can be red or yellow.
See also
In Spanish: Pterophyllum para niños
