Wildlife Guide · South America — Amazon basin (wild type); aquariums worldwide

Angelfish

Pterophyllum scalare (Lichtenstein, 1823) — freshwater angelfish, family Cichlidae

Tall, graceful Amazon cichlids — community-tank icons bred into many colour and fin varieties.

Domesticated aquarium fish; wild type widespread in the Amazon basin

A silver freshwater angelfish with tall fins and dark vertical bars swimming among green aquarium plants.

Image: Photo: Versions111 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

In brief

Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) are tall Amazonian cichlids kept worldwide in aquariums; the many 'varieties' are line-bred colour and fin forms of one species, needing a tall planted tank of 110+ litres and calm tankmates.

By the WARN Research & Conservation TeamChecked against IUCN Red List & CITES sourcesLast updated June 2026

The freshwater angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) is a tall, disc-shaped cichlid from the slow waters of the Amazon basin, and one of the most popular aquarium fish in the world. Its flattened body and trailing fins let it slip between submerged plant stems, where it hunts small prey and guards its eggs. Generations of aquarium breeding have produced colour and finnage varieties — silver, zebra, marble, koi, gold, platinum, veil and albino — that are all the same species, not separate fish. Despite an angelic look, these are territorial cichlids with real needs: a tall, warm, well-filtered, planted tank and calm tankmates. WARN publishes this guide as free, honest fishkeeping education.

~15 cm

Body length; up to ~20 cm tall with fins

110 L+

Minimum tank for a pair (tall aquarium)

8–10 yr

Typical lifespan with good care

1 species

All common varieties are P. scalare

Figures sourced from Seriously Fish — Pterophyllum scalare, Practical Fishkeeping — angelfish care .

Angelfish: Quick Facts

Vital statistics and key facts about the Angelfish
Wild origin	Amazon basin, South America
Adult size	~15 cm long, up to ~20 cm tall with fins
Minimum tank	110+ litres (tall) for a pair
Temperament	Cichlid — can be territorial
Lifespan	8–10 years with good care
Varieties	Line-bred colour & fin forms of one species

Scientific Classification

Scientific classification of the Angelfish
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Actinopterygii
Order	Cichliformes
Family	Cichlidae
Genus	Pterophyllum
Species	Pterophyllum scalare

Conservation Status

IUCN Status: Domesticated aquarium fish — varieties not assessed. Wild Pterophyllum scalare is widespread across the Amazon basin.
Population: Wild type widespread; aquarium varieties bred in vast numbers
Trend: Wild population stable; not a conservation concern
Assessed: Not formally assessed by the IUCN
CITES: Not listed

Never release aquarium fish or plants into the wild — released pets harm freshwater ecosystems.

Key Facts: Angelfish

Almost all aquarium angelfish are line-bred varieties of one species, Pterophyllum scalare.
They are cichlids, not relatives of marine angelfish, and can be territorial.
Their tall body needs a tall tank — height matters as much as length.
Fancy fin types (veil) are delicate and need gentle, non-fin-nipping tankmates.
Angelfish are devoted parents, fanning and guarding their eggs and fry.
Stable, warm, well-filtered water prevents most common diseases.

Wild angelfish of the Amazon

Pterophyllum scalare lives in the slow, warm, often tannin-stained waters of the Amazon basin, among submerged roots and tall plants. Its laterally flattened body and long fins are camouflage and manoeuvring gear for life among vertical stems, where the dark vertical bars break up its outline. Wild angelfish hunt small invertebrates and fish fry and form pairs that jointly defend a territory and their eggs. The wild 'silver' form is the basis of every aquarium variety. Two close relatives — the larger Pterophyllum altum and the smaller P. leopoldi — are also kept by specialists but are far less common than the line-bred scalare varieties.

Varieties are line-bred, not separate species

The silver, zebra, marble, koi, gold, platinum, veil and albino angelfish sold in shops are colour and fin mutations selectively bred from one species. Colour genes stack — a fish can be koi and veil at once — so the trade names describe appearance, not ancestry. None of these are separate species, and all share identical care needs. Because the varieties interbreed freely, 'designer' angelfish appear constantly. Buyers should choose healthy, well-shaped fish from a responsible source rather than chasing rare patterns from poor stock.

Tank, water and tankmates

Angelfish grow tall, so a single pair needs a tall aquarium of at least 110 litres, planted and gently filtered, with stable warm water around 25–28°C. They are cichlids and can be territorial, especially when breeding, and may eat very small fish such as neon tetras. Good tankmates are calm, similarly sized and will not nip the long fins of veil varieties. Sharp décor should be avoided to protect trailing fins. Overstocking, poor filtration and unstable water cause most health problems, so steady maintenance matters more than gadgets.

Health and responsible fishkeeping

Common angelfish problems — ich (white spot), fin rot, swim bladder issues, hexamita and ammonia poisoning — are nearly all linked to water quality, diet and stress. Cycling the tank before stocking, regular partial water changes, quarantining new fish and avoiding overfeeding prevent the majority of disease. Responsible fishkeeping also means buying captive-bred stock, never releasing aquarium fish into the wild (released pets and plants cause ecological harm), and planning for an adult fish that can live 8–10 years, not the tiny juvenile in the shop bag.

Explore angelfish varieties on WARN

WARN's angelfish variety library at /wildlife-guides/angelfish covers line-bred colour and fin forms — including the wild-type Silver, the Marble, the Koi and the Platinum, with further forms added as suitable human-free photos are sourced — each with how the colour or fin type arises, adult size, tank needs and common health issues. The library helps aquarists understand that these fish are all one Amazon cichlid, and choose and care for them responsibly.

Freshwater Angelfish Varieties Guide

From the wild-type Silver to the Marble, Koi, Gold, Platinum, Veil and Albino — explore popular freshwater angelfish varieties, all line-bred forms of one Amazon cichlid, with tank needs, common health issues and responsible fishkeeping.