Marble Angelfish
Pterophyllum scalare
The Marble Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) is a semi-aggressive fish that's easy to keep. Give it a tank of at least 180 litres (48 US gallons), water held at 75-86°F, and a pH of 6-7.5.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
South America
- South America
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Marble 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 6-7.5. They reach about 15 cm as adults, so don't be misled by the small juveniles sold in stores.
What Do Marble 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.
Marble Angelfish Tank Mates
Marbled Angelfish morph; one of the hardiest Angelfish varieties. Predatory toward small fish. The Marble Angelfish is semi-aggressive, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. It's a known fin-nipper, so avoid bettas, guppies, and other slow, long-finned fish. It's predatory, so anything small enough to fit in its mouth will be treated as food rather than a companion. 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 Marble Angelfish Good for Beginners?
Not a sensible first purchase. Get the tank cycled, keep easier fish stable for a year, then revisit if you still want the extra work this species demands.
Marble Angelfish - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Marble Angelfish need?
Marble 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 Marble Angelfish need?
Keep them at 75-86°F with a pH of 6-7.5, 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 Marble Angelfish eat?
Marble 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 Marble Angelfish good for beginners?
Yes - Marble Angelfish are a reasonable beginner fish once the tank is cycled and parameters are stable. Add them after ammonia and nitrite read 0 ppm, not the same day you fill the tank.
Common mistakes with Marble 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.
- Mixing with long-finned fish - Marble Angelfishs will nip at bettas, angelfish, and other fish with flowing fins, causing stress and infection risk.
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 Marble 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
- Cardinal TetraSize risk - Marble Angelfish will likely eat Cardinal Tetra at adult size
