🐡 Angelfish Pterophyllum scalare

The Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) is a moderate-care, semi-aggressive species from Amazon basin. Adults reach roughly 6", so plan on a minimum tank of 30 gallons. Keep the water between 76–84°F with a pH of 6–7.5. It does not school and can be kept singly or in species-appropriate numbers. Its long fins make it a target for known fin-nippers. It is predatory and will eat fish small enough to fit in its mouth. As an omnivore, it does best on a varied diet appropriate to its feeding style.

At a glance

Good tankmates for Angelfish

SwordtailDiscusThree-Spot GouramiBristlenose PlecoClown LoachPictus CatfishDenison BarbMadagascar RainbowfishKissing GouramiMoonlight GouramiFiremouth CichlidSeverumElectric Blue AcaraBlue AcaraYoyo LoachDojo LoachRubber Lip PlecoSiamese Algae EaterBala SharkRainbow SharkFlying FoxSilver DollarTinfoil BarbRed RainbowfishSnakeskin GouramiGold SeverumChocolate CichlidFestivum CichlidStriped Raphael CatfishRed-Tail Tinfoil BarbWeather LoachHorseface LoachGold Nugget Pleco (L177)Vampire ShrimpRed SwordtailSailfin Molly

Avoid these tankmates

Neon TetraCardinal TetraRummynose TetraBlack Skirt TetraSerpae TetraGuppyEndler's LivebearerPlatyBetta (male)German Blue RamBolivian RamApistogrammaOscarZebra DanioHarlequin RasboraChili RasboraCherry BarbTiger BarbWhite Cloud MinnowBronze CoryPanda CoryOtocinclusCherry ShrimpAmano ShrimpNerite SnailMystery SnailMarble HatchetfishEmber TetraBlack Neon TetraLemon TetraGlowlight TetraCongo TetraBloodfin TetraDiamond TetraBuenos Aires TetraEmperor TetraSilver Tip TetraX-Ray TetraGreen Neon TetraCelestial Pearl DanioLambchop RasboraPearl DanioGlowlight DanioGold BarbOdessa BarbCheckerboard BarbFive-Banded BarbNeon Dwarf RainbowfishThreadfin RainbowfishCelebes RainbowfishHoney GouramiSparkling GouramiChocolate GouramiParadise FishRainbow CichlidTexas CichlidDemasoni CichlidFrontosaMultifasciatusJulidochromisPygmy CorySterbai CoryJulii CoryHillstream LoachDwarf PufferfishFigure-8 PufferBlack Ghost KnifefishRopefishSenegal BichirLeast KillifishCommon GoldfishFancy GoldfishRosy Red MinnowGhost ShrimpBamboo ShrimpCrystal Red ShrimpAssassin SnailRamshorn SnailMalaysian Trumpet SnailRabbit SnailGold TetraPenguin TetraRed Eye TetraFlame TetraBleeding Heart TetraColombian TetraGalaxy RasboraPhoenix RasboraEmerald Eye RasboraAxelrod's RasboraLeopard DanioGold Ring DanioRuby BarbMelon BarbForktail Blue-eyeLicorice GouramiCroaking GouramiPeaceful BettaStrawberry BettaGolden RamFlag AcaraBanjar Red CichlidMidas CichlidFlowerhornYellow Dwarf CichlidAgassiz's Dwarf CichlidHongsloi CichlidCheckerboard CichlidShell-DwellerEmerald CoryAlbino CoryThree-Striped CoryAdolfo's CoryHabrosus CoryZebra OtoDwarf Chain LoachBlue Dream ShrimpYellow ShrimpBlack Diamond ShrimpBumblebee ShrimpRed Claw CrabLyretail KillifishClown KillifishHigh-Fin PlatyBalloon MollyAmerican FlagfishIndian Glassfish

See the full tankmate guide for Angelfish →