Are you thinking of adding an angelfish as the main attraction of your aquarium? Or maybe you are doing some last minute research on angelfish? Freshwater angelfish (Pterophyllum) is one of the most popular tropical fish in pet stores and is suitable for less experienced keepers.
Steps
Step 1. Get to know the angelfish
Most people think of angelfish as a crescent-shaped fish with long fins; but these fish can get very large and need more care than you would think. A fully developed angelfish can be as large as the palm of a hand (approximately 10-15cm from nose to tail), and can exceed 25cm in height. They usually live in aquariums that are not suitable for their size. To keep them thriving, you'll need a 110 liter tank for a single fish or a 150-200 liter tank to keep 2 or 3. Keeping a pair of angelfish is fine, as they usually become territorial. To be safe, the maximum number of angelfish to keep in an aquarium is 3.
Step 2. Get a warming device
Since angelfish are tropical fish, it is best for them to live in a heated aquarium. A temperature of 24-26.5 ° C is recommended.
Step 3. Choose carefully the other fish in the aquarium
Since angelfish belong to the cichlid family, they are aggressive animals. A pair of angelfish can live well in a 150-200 liter aquarium.
- Other aquarium fish can be: Corydoras, Ramirez's dwarf cichlid, medium-sized Tetra fish and so on.
- Fish that cannot live with angelfish include: neon fish, Tiger barbel, aggressive species of gourami, betta fish, or other fish that would likely be eaten or targeted by angelfish.
Step 4. Put some decorations
Since they are tall and slender fish, it is good to provide them with suitable hiding places, such as tall plants (real or artificial). An aquarium with tall plants such as Microsorum pteropus, Limnophila sessiliflora and Echinodorus amazonicus will be a delightful place to hide. Equally important for hiding places is the substrate, such as gravel or sand for aquariums; this must also be added to the tub.
Step 5. Give the fish proper nutrition
It is always a good thing to feed angelfish with a varied diet! Tropical fish flakes, staple food, cichlid pellets, worms, and brine shrimp are good examples of proper nutrition for angelfish.
Step 6. Give the fish time to adapt
Like all fish, angelfish must have time to adapt to the aquarium by staying in their bag immersed in the aquarium for at least 15-30 minutes, in order to get used to the temperature and parameters of the tank. Then, gently remove the fish from the bag with a net (or change all the water in the bag for a period of time, as the net can damage the more fragile parts of the fish, particularly when they are small). Do not let the water from the bag enter the aquarium.
Advice
- Plants like Microsorum pteropus, Echinodorus amazonicus, or other tall plants are good examples of plants that angelfish can take refuge in.
- These fish do best in pairs or kept alone.
- A suitable pH level should be at least 6.8-7.5.
- The filter should not cause excessive turbulence in the water, because angelfish are not agile swimmers.
- Angelfish cannot be kept with neon fish or other small fish, which they would likely eat.
Warnings
- Angelfish have long fins and swim slowly, so it is best not to keep them together with aggressive fish, such as tiger barbels or others.
- Even though their name suggests friendly and docile animals, they can be territorial. Sometimes they target smaller fish that live in the central part of the aquarium. Sometimes they target smaller angelfish! In addition, they are sometimes very shy and hide from other fish, which is a good reason to provide them with an aquarium with lots of plants.
- Be sure to cycle the aquarium before placing any animals in it.
- Like all aquatic animals, inadequate aquarium size blocks the growth of angelfish, which will therefore live shorter.
