Angelfish
Pterophyllum scalare
The Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) is a semi-aggressive fish that's a good step up once you have a little experience. Give it a tank of at least 180 litres (48 US gallons), water held at 75-86°F, and a pH of 6.5-7.5.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
Amazon River basin and its tributaries, South America.
- South America
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Angelfish Tank Setup
Give them at least 180 litres (48 US gallons). Cichlids are territorial and produce plenty of waste, so strong filtration and some rocks or wood to break up sight lines both help. Aim for 75-86°F and a pH around 6.5-7.5. They reach about 15 cm as adults, so don't be misled by the small juveniles sold in stores.
What Do Angelfish Eat?
They're not fussy eaters - feed a varied diet, rotating good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods rather than the same thing every day, and match the food size to their mouths.
Angelfish Tank Mates
Cichlid - not a peaceful community fish. Eats fish small enough to swallow (neon tetras, guppies, shrimp). Territorial when breeding; tall tank preferred. The Angelfish is semi-aggressive, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. Good matches come down to the whole stocking list working together - temperature, tank size, and temperament - not any single label. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Angelfish Good for Beginners?
Doable once you test water regularly and catch problems before fish look sick. If this is your first tank, pick something more forgiving and come back later.
Angelfish - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Angelfish need?
Angelfish need a tank of at least 180 litres (48 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
What water parameters do Angelfish need?
Keep them at 75-86°F with a pH of 6.5-7.5, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Angelfish eat?
Angelfish are omnivores and aren't fussy eaters. Feed a varied mix of good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods, and match the food size to their mouths. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Angelfish good for beginners?
Angelfish are best for keepers with a little experience. They are manageable once you test water regularly and catch problems early; a complete beginner may prefer something more forgiving first.
Common mistakes with Angelfish
- Underestimating tank size - the minimum footprint is 180 litres (48 US gallons); impulse buying into a smaller tank leads to stress and shortened lifespan.
Guides that pair with this fish
- Angelfish care guide - Baselines for diet, flow, and setup.
- Angelfish tank size - Footprint and volume guidance.
- Angelfish tank mates - Community patterns that tend to work.
- Angelfish with neon tetras - How risk changes as angels grow.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Fish to avoid mixing with Angelfish
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- Pea PufferPredator - Pea Puffer will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Betta (Male)Predator - Betta (Male) will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Serpae TetraFin nipper - will shred the fins of peaceful fish
