Angelfish Care Guide
Freshwater angelfish care guide: tall tank size, temperature and water, feeding, which tank mates work and which get eaten, pairing, breeding and warning signs.
Quick answer
Freshwater angelfish need a tall tank, warm, clean water at about 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) and tank mates too big to be eaten and too calm to nip their long fins. A single adult needs at least a 75-litre (20 US gallon) tall tank, a pair does better in around 115 litres (30 US gallons) or more, and a group needs much more. They're cichlids, so expect personality, pairing and some squabbling.
What you're buying
The common aquarium angelfish is Pterophyllum scalare, a cichlid from slow, heavily planted waters in South America. It's not related to the marine angelfish sold for reef tanks, which need saltwater and very different care.
Shops sell angels as coin-sized juveniles, so it's easy to underestimate them. Adults grow to around 15 cm (6 in) long and taller than that from fin tip to fin tip. Captive breeding has produced many varieties (silver, marble, black, koi, veil-tailed and more), all with the same basic needs.
Tank size and shape
Height matters as much as volume. A 20-gallon "high" tank (about 75 litres) is the usual minimum for one adult, and a 10-gallon is too short for adults to stretch their fins. For a group of youngsters that will grow and pair off, plan on a lot more, often 200 litres (around 55 US gallons) or above, and be ready to rehome some fish once pairs form.
Setup:
- Tall plants and upright decor. Angels like to weave between stems. Amazon swords, tall grasses or driftwood work well and give them cover.
- Gentle flow. They're slow, deliberate swimmers. A filter that turns the tank into a river stresses them.
- Heater with thermostat and a separate thermometer.
- A cycled filter before any fish go in.
Water conditions
Captive-bred angelfish are adaptable. Aim for:
| Parameter | Target |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 24–30 °C (75–86 °F), kept steady |
| pH | about 6 to 8; stable matters more than exact |
| Ammonia | 0 |
| Nitrite | 0 |
| Nitrate | low, kept down with regular water changes |
Wild-caught angels and the related altum angelfish are far fussier and usually need soft, acidic water. Ask the seller whether your fish are captive-bred.
Regular partial water changes are the backbone of angelfish care. Our guide to aquarium water changes covers how much to change and how to do it without shocking your fish.
Feeding
Angelfish are mostly carnivorous and keen eaters. A quality flake or small pellet for cichlids can be the staple, with frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp or daphnia a few times a week. Feed adults once or twice a day, only what they finish in a couple of minutes. Juveniles do better with smaller meals more often.
Skip live feeder fish. They add little nutrition and are a common route for disease.
Tank mates: what works and what gets eaten
Two problems decide most angelfish mixes. Angels eat small fish, and their long fins are a target for nippers. The angelfish and neon tetra combination is a classic mistake: the tetras may be safe while the angels are small, then disappear one by one as they grow.
| Usually works | Usually doesn't |
|---|---|
| Larger peaceful tetras, such as bigger-bodied species | Neons, small rasboras, shrimp (eaten) |
| Corydoras and bristlenose plecos | Tiger barbs and other fin-nippers |
| Peaceful gouramis of similar size | Aggressive cichlids that bully slow fish |
| Other angelfish in a large enough tank | Very fast, boisterous fish that outcompete at meals |
Every fish is an individual, so watch closely after any new addition.
Behaviour, pairing and squabbles
Young angels often shoal loosely. As they mature, they sort out a pecking order, and some pair off. A pair claims a territory, usually around a flat leaf, piece of slate or the glass, and drives the others away. In a small tank this can turn rough fast.
Signs to watch: one fish kept in a corner, torn fins, a fish that stops eating. If one is being picked on constantly, move it or the pair.
Breeding basics
Angelfish lay eggs on vertical surfaces such as broad leaves, slate, pipes or the tank glass. Both parents usually guard and fan the eggs. They hatch in a few days at warm temperatures, and the fry hang onto the surface living off their yolk sacs for several more days before swimming freely, roughly a week after spawning.
First-time pairs often eat their eggs. That's normal and many pairs get it right after a few attempts. Some keepers move the eggs to a separate tank to hatch them. If you don't want fry, removing the eggs is usually enough.
Health warning signs
Know what normal looks like: upright posture, fins held open, a good appetite. Get concerned if you see:
- clamped fins, hanging at the surface or sitting near the bottom;
- loss of appetite for more than a day or two;
- white spots, cottony patches or fraying fin edges, which may be Ich (white spot) or fin rot;
- rapid breathing or swollen gill covers;
- a swollen belly, raised scales or steady weight loss.
Test the water first, since poor water lies behind many problems. Quarantine new fish for a few weeks before they join the main tank. If fish keep getting worse once the water is right, or several are ill, contact an aquatic vet or an experienced fish health specialist.
In Pakistan
Angelfish are a staple of Pakistani aquarium shops and are bred locally in many colour forms. Summer room temperatures can push water above 30 °C (86 °F), especially during power cuts, so keep the tank out of sun and add extra aeration in hot months. Juveniles are cheap; well-grown adults and established breeding pairs cost noticeably more.
Choosing your first angels? You can browse fish from verified sellers on Paalo.
Frequently asked questions
Can angelfish live with neon tetras?
It is risky. Small neons may be fine with young angelfish, but adult angelfish are predators and often eat fish small enough to fit in their mouths. Choose larger, calm tank mates instead.
How big do freshwater angelfish get?
Adults reach around 15 cm (6 in) in body length and are taller than they are long once the fins are counted, which is why they need a tall tank.
How can I tell male and female angelfish apart?
Usually you cannot, reliably, until they spawn. At spawning the female's breeding tube is broader and blunter than the male's. Size and head shape are unreliable guides.
How long do angelfish live?
With good care they are commonly said to live around 8 to 10 years, so they are a long commitment compared with many small community fish.
