Marble Angelfish - Pterophyllum scalare

Marble Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare)

The Marble Angelfish is a striking ornamental strain of the freshwater angelfish, valued for its marbled black, silver and white patterning and its graceful, laterally compressed body shape. Like other captive-bred angelfish varieties, it belongs to Pterophyllum scalare and is generally more adaptable to aquarium life than wild fish. In the aquarium it makes an elegant centrepiece for a warm, well-planted tropical setup, provided it is given enough vertical space and appropriately sized tankmates.

Common Name:
Marble Angelfish. This is a captive-bred ornamental angelfish strain.

Scientific Name (Latin):
Pterophyllum scalare

Maximum Size:
Up to 15 cm in body length, although the total height appears greater once the dorsal and anal fins are fully developed.

Water Type:
Freshwater.

Origin / Natural Habitat:
This variety is captive-bred, but the species naturally occurs across the Amazon basin in Peru, Colombia and Brazil, along with connected river systems in northern South America. Wild fish inhabit slow-moving floodplain waters, swamps and heavily vegetated margins.

Water Parameters:
Temperature: 24–30°C
pH Range: 6.0–7.5
Hardness: 0–15°H

Temperament:
Generally peaceful to semi-aggressive. Marble Angelfish are usually suitable for larger community aquaria, but they can become territorial when breeding and may eat very small fish if given the chance.

Diet:
Omnivorous. They readily accept prepared foods such as flakes and granules, but benefit from regular supplementation with frozen or live foods to maintain condition and colour.

Minimum Tank Size:
A practical long-term recommendation for a group is at least 120 × 40 × 50 cm, with a tall aquarium especially important because of the species’ body shape and finnage.

Behaviour & Activity:
Angelfish are graceful mid-water cichlids that appreciate vertical space, planted cover and open swimming areas. They are pair-forming fish, and once mature they may spawn on vertical surfaces such as leaves, slate or aquarium décor.

Special Requirements or Care Notes:
This variety does best in a mature, well-filtered aquarium with calm flow, warm water and plenty of vertical décor such as tall plants, wood or slate. Because this is a long-finned ornamental strain, avoid obvious fin-nippers and do not overcrowd the tank. Captive-bred angelfish are generally more tolerant of aquarium conditions than their wild ancestors.

Suitable for:
Beginner to Intermediate fishkeepers. Captive-bred angelfish are widely regarded as easier to keep than wild fish, but their adult size, breeding behaviour and need for a tall aquarium still make good setup planning important.

Availability:
Regular in trade. Captive-bred angelfish varieties are commonly sold and remain one of the most established freshwater aquarium fish groups.

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Please note that Mother Nature is a wonderful thing, and variation in patterns and colours will occur — that is part of the unique beauty of these animals.