Golden angelfish description, breeding, compatibility, maintenance, photo.

Angelfish in their natural habitat

The first description of angelfish was made by researcher Schulze back in 1823. The fish came to Europe in 1920, and already in 1930 it was successfully bred in the USA. Although modern fish of this family are called common, and they are not difficult to find on sale, they differ significantly from their natural relatives.

In nature, angelfish live in South American reservoirs with slow currents. Their homeland is considered to be the central Amazon and its tributaries in Peru, Brazil, and eastern Ecuador. Under natural conditions, angelfish need a pond with a small amount of plants; their food is fry, insects, invertebrates, and vegetation.

Description

Fish that live in nature have a silvery body with dark stripes. Laterally compressed body, with large fins and a pointed head. Long thin rays may develop on the caudal fin of mature fish. This shape helps them camouflage among roots and plants. This is why the wild form has a coloring in the form of vertical dark stripes.

Adult fish reach 15 cm in length and up to 25 cm in height. The average lifespan of an angelfish is 10 years, but there are cases when they lived 15 years or more.

However, describing the angelfish that are currently on sale is quite a difficult task. As a result of the breeding work of amateurs, a huge number of color variations were obtained - from golden to black angelfish. Today, the most popular are combinations of two or more colors (for example, koi angelfish or red devil angelfish) or unusual colors (blue angel angelfish, Pinoy angelfish).

Below is a photo of an angelfish, but this is only a small part of the variety that can be found in amateur aquariums.

Species diversity

Subspecies of South American cichlids have many popular names. Below is a description of some of them.

Common angelfish

The average size of one of the most common fish in pet stores is 22 cm. Due to the shape of its fins and silvery color, it is often called the “moon fish.”

Adults are distinguished by a dark accent on the forehead and back. Despite its wide distribution in specialized stores, breeding forms of angelfish have pushed this species into the background.

Leopold's angelfish

It is distinguished by its relatively short body length - no more than 15 cm. Due to the length of the front part of the body, it is called “long-nosed”. Pterophyllum leopoldi does not have a bright color; even dark stripes are difficult to see on the dull brown fabric. This species has more proportional fins than those of the common angelfish, so it looks more harmonious. During breeding, a school of 6-7 fish divides in pairs, and after the fry hatch, they are reunited again.

Diamond

This species is related to the golden angelfish. It has a fascinating bright silver color. Some individuals have dark stripes. Pterophyllum scalare diamond deserves its name precisely because of the color of its scales, which play beautifully in the light, as well as its almost transparent fins. It is very popular among breeders who are actively trying to develop new breeds using it.

Angelfish bicolor

A distinctive feature is body color. It is dominated by two colors - silver and black. There are no stripes, instead there is a clear boundary between light and dark tones. If it happens that Scalare bicolor suddenly shows stripes, it immediately noticeably loses in price compared to its traditional counterparts.

Angelfish altum (or high-melting)

In the wild, some individuals had a profile reaching 45 cm in height. The appearance of Pterophyllum altum is very similar to the common angelfish, except for a more distinct pattern. This gracefully finned breed loves space and can be irritated by small, crowded aquariums.

Platinum angelfish

It owes its nickname to its light silver shining color.

Blue Angel

The blue angelfish, beloved by many, is more valuable if it has a more saturated hue. Scalare blue admirers prefer individuals without dark stripes. The cost of one fish with translucent blue fins reaches almost one and a half thousand rubles.

Golden angelfish

Despite the precious name, the ancestors of this species are the most common angelfish. The golden rock is unpretentious and is painted a pale silver color with golden areas. There may be very little yellow tint, or, on the contrary, it may occupy a significant part of the body, which is framed by large fins.

Leopard angelfish

This type of angelfish is painted in black and silver shades in a ratio of 50 to 50. It is thanks to the bizarre shape of the black spots that the fish received such an elaborate name. The breed is not at all suitable for living in dense places; for a comfortable life it needs free space.

Koi angelfish

The white canvas of their body is decorated with black strokes, and the head (sometimes other parts of the body) has a shade from orange to bright red. The smaller the bright spot, the more expensive the angelfish. Due to the coloring, similar to koi carp, this breed acquired the name Koi angelfish. Interestingly, it is difficult to find two individuals with the same coloring.

Red Devil

The red spots present in the Koi angelfish gave rise to a new breed. The fish has an ominous name, but it is very peaceful and not at all dangerous. There are practically no spots of a different color on the body of individuals, and the most expensive specimens are those with a complete absence of all colors except red.

Marble angelfish

They appeared from the species of common angelfish. Unlike its parent, the marbled species is smaller in size. In addition, these unpretentious angels are easier to keep than other breeds. The color contains silver and black colors, stripes, spots of different shapes. The fish received its nickname precisely for the combination of spots reminiscent of the rock of the same name. An aquarium with a capacity of more than 60 liters will be a suitable home environment for her.

Zebra (striped angelfish)

Like the wild horse breed, its color is replete with black stripes. It may seem that it is very similar to the most common type. This is true, the difference is that the stripes on the zebra’s body are more clearly defined. There are more than four of them on the body of these individuals.

Black angelfish

A widespread species, since it was bred by breeders many years ago. To breed pure black fish, individuals with extensive black spots were selected. It took a lot of work to get a perfectly black cichlid. Sometimes you can still find “black velvet” with areas of silver and gray shades. Typically these spots are located on the abdomen and fins.

Angelfish pink glowing

Breeders have nothing to do with it; the species appeared thanks to genetic engineering. was able to create a stunning pink glow-in-the-dark fish. Due to the high cost, few people purchase the radiant beauty, so it is not particularly widespread in Russia. There are unverified rumors that the pink angelfish lives very little and cannot have offspring.

Angelfish dantum albino

Graceful and smoothly moving descendants of Rio Nanay. It has long sailing fins, thanks to which the height of the fish can reach 27 cm. This white angelfish is photophobic and does not see very well. She will like aquariums with many grottoes, stones and areas shaded by plants. Albins are not known for their sociability; the best neighbors will be a few individuals of the same species.

Veiled angelfish

This breed is famous for its curved translucent fins. They have an elongated shape and can be painted in different colors and have different patterns. Since fins attract the attention of aggressive fish, angelfish should be isolated from Sumatran barbs, macropods and large cichlids. However, inhibited veil individuals irritate even neon and minor colors. Ideal companions would be bottom species (since angelfish love to be on the surface of the water and almost never sink to the bottom), as well as goldfish.

Pearl

Freshwater angels owe their iridescent color to genetics. The fact is that pearliness is not a distinctive feature of a selective species, but a manifested recessive gene. Dark-colored angelfish, unlike light-colored ones, rarely boast of this quality, since the iridescent highlights are invisible on their scales.

Paraiba angelfish (phantom)

This is the name given to fish that have a double gene for asexuality. Sometimes blue pearl angelfish are called by this unusual nickname.

Jacobin

Their feature is a more elongated body shape coupled with wide fins.

Birch

It is distinguished by clearly visible vertical stripes and is painted silver.

Dwarf

This is, rather, not a form, but sometimes mini-fish. Perhaps their growth is affected by improper feeding or insufficiently thought-out living conditions.

Incompatible species

Telescopes and goldfish

The worst possible neighborhood. These fish are incompatible not only in character and lifestyle, but also in living conditions. Goldfish are more cold-loving fish and often make a mess, which makes life difficult for angelfish. Slow and harmless goldfish can become victims of schools of nimble predators. Cichlids will hunt such neighbors, ruffle their fins and even eat out their eyes.

Piranhas

Piranhas are the most dangerous predators among fish. In forty seconds they can completely gnaw the carcass of an adult capybara. Angelfish are just a small snack for them. If you do not want to say goodbye to your aquarium “angels,” it is better not to add piranhas to them.

Cichlids

Angelfish belong to the same systematic group, but they are distinguished from Cichlids proper by their more peaceful behavior, schooling, and small body size. Most representatives of the Cichlid Genus, and South American and African ones in particular, are very territorial species. They are loners and do not even tolerate their own grown offspring. They can cause serious injury to representatives of other species, and are not afraid of fish even twice their size. Small angelfish in this case will be eaten sooner or later.

Cockerels

These unique fish do not get along with anyone. They are very cocky. The situation gets worse when, before the start of spawning, angelfish become much more aggressive. Then the neighbors in the aquarium will constantly fight until the weakest fighter dies from his wounds.

Discus

Discus fish are very similar to all Cichlids in terms of housing conditions, behavior and character. At the same time, larger discus, forming flocks, will in every possible way crowd out small neighbors and drive them out of their territory. Constant fighting among themselves will lead to oppression of both species. This won't end well.

Diamond cyclazoma

This is a fairly large fish, reaching an average of 25-30 centimeters in length. The fry are very weak and harmless, so they are destroyed by most fish species. Adult diamond cichlids do not tolerate strangers, so they kill them as soon as they see them. It is best to keep these intolerant fish alone - they will be more comfortable this way.

Astronotuses

These fish get along only with their relatives. They are very aggressive, large and voracious predators. They will quickly eat all the angelfish, even though they belong to the same family. One of the worst neighbors for aquarium “angels”.

Maintenance and care of angelfish

Angelfish are quite large fish, so to keep them you should choose containers of at least 60 liters, the height of the aquarium should exceed 45 centimeters, the width does not play a big role, since angelfish are adapted to live in narrow channels. The water should be clean and slightly soft, the acidity level should be kept between 6.5-7.4 pH, and the constant hardness should not exceed 18. Angelfish are quite sensitive to the environment, so it is advisable to maintain water parameters at the same level.

It is better to keep cichlids in small groups; it is advisable to choose a large aquarium for them, densely planted with plants. It is worth remembering that these fish are shy; a sudden light or knock can frighten them. Angelfish are peaceful, but during spawning they jealously protect their territory from their relatives.

Feeding is not particularly difficult. Cichlids mainly feed on live food. Young angelfish eat live daphnia, tadpoles, and various insects. They happily consume granular and flake food, and gnaw algae or leaves of delicate aquatic plants. It is worth considering that due to the specific shape of the body, it is difficult for angelfish to pick up food from the bottom, so you will have to come up with special feeders. It happens that fish, for no apparent reason, refuse food for a week, but then begin to eat again as if nothing had happened. You can give the fish chopped seafood - mussel, octopus or shrimp meat.

When keeping representatives of the cichlid family, you should follow simple rules. If several pairs live in your aquarium, plant a large bush with wide leaves in different corners. This technique will reduce the level of conflict. Never give fish low-quality food; angelfish are very sensitive to its quality. Be sure to create shelters - caves, darkened areas, snags, stones. Also welcome are plants floating on the surface, which will dim the bright light. There should be a minimum of decorations in the center and near the surface so that the cichlids can swim freely.

Sex determination in angelfish and pair formation

Sexual dimorphism in angelfish is not pronounced, i.e. males and females are almost the same in appearance. It is impossible to determine gender before the onset of puberty, and even then it is quite difficult. Aquarists joke about this: “If it swam, it means a male, if it swam, it means a female.” However, in adult angelfish it is possible to determine the sex in most cases, although this can usually only be done by those who know the anatomy of fish well. Let's try to figure out what characteristics determine the gender of fish of this genus:

1. In mature males, there is a fatty hump on the forehead;
2. Males have a more convex pectoral carina;
3. If you look at the fish from the front, then the lower part of its body resembles a wedge, and in the male this wedge is sharp, and in the female it is blunt;
4. The diagnostic sign is the genital papilla (in females it is called the ovipositor) - a growth with an opening located between the anus and the anal fin, through which reproductive products come out. In females it is larger and thicker, while in males it is correspondingly thinner, sharper and directed backwards. These differences are especially clearly visible during spawning, as well as before and immediately after it;
5. The distance from the genital papilla to the anal fin is much shorter in males than in females. In fact, in males the fin keel grows directly from the genital papilla, and since in striped angelfish the papilla is usually located at the base of the central stripe, we can say that in males the anal fin starts from the base of the central stripe, and in females - behind it;

Male angelfish differ from females in having a more elongated, long dorsal fin. In its rear part there are dark transverse stripes interspersed with gaps. The number of these stripes in females is no more than 6, and in males there are no less than 7.

However, sometimes it is impossible to reliably determine the gender of fish based on these characteristics, especially in artificially bred forms with marbled, golden, albino coloring. In such cases, they try to determine the sex of the fish by their behavior when they form pairs and begin spawning in a common aquarium. But this does not always work: in some cases, in the absence of males, females play their role in mating games and spawning, and same-sex couples even lay eggs (which, naturally, remain unfertilized).

Here we can advise the following: if you want to purchase an adult breeder fish, choose an individual with characteristic features and behavior, or a fish that has already given birth to offspring. It’s even better if it’s an established couple right away. If you are going to raise breeders yourself, purchase 8-10 fry with wide and long fins, among them there will definitely be individuals of both sexes, and in the future they will split into pairs themselves, and you can decide which of them to use for further breeding.

Angelfish prefer to form pairs on their own, choosing a partner from several individuals of the opposite sex. But the aquarist may well choose a pair of an existing young specimen. When a male and female angelfish of similar age and size find themselves alone in an aquarium, as a rule, they begin to “build love.” It is not recommended to separate ready-made couples and select other partners - this is extremely stressful for fish, and they do not always form new unions. It is easy to identify a formed pair: the fish stay together, swim in single file, and the male begins to drive the female into the corners of the aquarium.

Parasites

Serious harm is caused to angelfish by parasites that can get in with live food (bloodworms, tubifex, daphnia, brine shrimp). Some parasites can be introduced with new inhabitants who were infected at the time of purchase. As a rule, external signs do not appear for a long period of time, as a result of which it is impossible to immediately recognize a sick fish.

Worms

If an animal is affected by worms, then you can find out about it only after their development has reached its maximum limit. You can understand that a fish is dying by a number of signs:

1. The angelfish practically does not move around the aquarium.
2. Lost appetite.
3. Breathes frequently.
4. The fish does not respond to stimuli.
5. In appearance, severe exhaustion associated with malnutrition becomes noticeable.
6. Waste products change color dramatically.
7. The fish always lies on the bottom.
8. There may be bloating in the abdomen, small wounds all over the body (some worms that have reached maximum development begin to leave the body, leaving behind wounds).

If it becomes clear that the fish has the last symptom, then it will not be possible to save the individual. As a rule, such fish die within a few hours or days.

Antipar is one of the drugs for the treatment of parasitic infections in aquarium fish.

With other symptoms, the animal can be saved. To do this, you will need to purchase anthelmintic drugs intended for fish at any pet store. In most cases, the drug is added to the general aquarium.

Microspores

Infection by microspores can be recognized quite easily by the following signs:

1. Black spots are visible all over the body.
2. The angelfish completely loses its appetite.
3. The fish move little and sink to the bottom.

It is important to understand that this disease cannot be cured, so every effort must be made to prevent infection of other inhabitants of the aquarium. The disease is contagious and deadly!

The disease is contagious and deadly!

A sick individual should be immediately transplanted separately or killed. The aquarium is cleaned, the water is changed, the equipment is washed, and then methylene blue is added for preventive purposes.

For 2 weeks, feeding is as nutritious as possible; it is best to use live food. In order to prevent this from happening in the future, it is recommended to use high quality food from well-known manufacturers. Clean the bottom and change water by 10-20% daily.

Reproduction in an aquarium

Angelfish form a stable, monogamous pair, and they actively spawn in a common aquarium, but it is quite difficult to preserve eggs. As a rule, eggs are deposited on vertical surfaces: a piece of driftwood, a flat sheet, even on glass in an aquarium. For propagation, special devices are often installed, either cones, or a piece of plastic pipe, or a ceramic pipe. Like all cichlids, angelfish have developed care for their offspring. Reproduction is not easy spawning, the parents take care of the eggs, and when the fry hatch, they continue to care for them until they swim.

Since angelfish choose their own mates, the best way to get such a mate is to buy six or more fish and raise them until they decide. Very often, the aquarist only learns about the beginning of spawning when he sees eggs in one corner and all the inhabitants of the aquarium in another. But, if you are careful, you can see a couple that is preparing to breed. They stick together, drive away other fish, and guard a secluded corner in the aquarium.

Angelfish usually reach sexual maturity at 8-12 months, and can spawn every 7-10 days if taken from them. Spawning begins with the pair choosing a place and beginning to methodically clean it. The female then lays a chain of eggs, and the male immediately fertilizes them. This continues until all the eggs (sometimes several hundred) have been laid; the angelfish eggs are quite large and light in color.

The parents take care of the eggs, fan them with their fins, and eat dead or unfertilized eggs (they turn white). After a few days, the eggs hatch, but the larvae remain attached to the surface. At this time, the larva does not eat yet; it consumes the contents of the yolk sac. After about another week, she becomes a fry and begins to swim freely. You can feed angelfish fry with Artemia naupilium or other fry food. Millions of angelfish fry have been raised on Artemia naupilii, so this is the optimal choice. They need to be fed three to four times a day, portions of which they can eat in two to three minutes.

In an aquarium with fry, it is better to use an internal filter with a sponge and without a lid, as it provides sufficient filtration, but does not suck the fry inside. The purity of the water is as important as regular feeding; it is because of the accumulated harmful substances that the fry most often die.

Aquarists often ask why angelfish eat their eggs? This can be due to stress when they spawn in a common aquarium and are distracted by other fish, or in young couples who are still inexperienced.

What to do?

Overfeeding angelfish is very dangerous - especially if it happens regularly. Typically, angelfish overeat bloodworms - this can cause constipation or intestinal sticking. As a result, the fish's balance is disturbed and it begins to swim sideways or belly up.

In this case, you need to place the fish in a separate aquarium and salt the water; Some of the water can be replaced with fresh water. Do not feed the angelfish. In a general aquarium, you need to carefully siphon the bottom and change a third of the water daily. Unfortunately, nothing more can be done about this problem at home; you can only wait and hope that the angelfish gets better. In case of overeating, this is possible. But if the angelfish swims on its side due to damage to the air bladder, then most likely the angelfish will stop floating. In this case, she should be euthanized.

Unfortunately, it is not always possible to follow the content rules. It's always a pity when a fish that has lived in an aquarium for some time gets sick and dies. The worst thing is that the only way to help her is to put her in quarantine. You must always remember that fish, like other pets, are a big responsibility. It’s better not to take on keeping fish at all than to do it haphazardly.

Angelfish are popular aquarium pets that are distinguished by good health and interesting behavior. At the same time, under the wrong conditions, fish can get sick, and in the absence of timely measures, they can die. Angelfish diseases are both contagious and not. Often, fish health problems arise due to poor quality care and lack of quarantine when introducing new inhabitants or plants into the aquarium.

• the fish moves little;
• does not eat angelfish;
• loss of response to external stimuli;
• severe exhaustion;
• change in color of feces;
• Red eyes;
• sick fish lies on the bottom;
• the angelfish has a swollen belly, and wounds have appeared on the body - due to a number of types of worms, which, having reached the peak of development, leave the host’s body, tearing it apart.

To treat worms in aquarium fish, you can use JBL Nedol Plus 250.

If the last of the symptoms appears, it will not be possible to save the pet. Fish in such a situation die within a few hours, less often – days. In other cases, it is worth trying to save the scalar. For this purpose, special anthelmintic agents for aquariums are used, which are added to the water. It is necessary to treat all inhabitants of the home pond, and not just the sick.

Microspores

When fish are infected with microspores, infected individuals develop characteristic symptoms

You need to pay attention to the following:

• black spots on the body;
• complete loss of appetite;
• loss of mobility.

Treatment of such a disease is impossible, and every effort must be made to prevent infection of other, not yet infected individuals. The sick fish is urgently isolated, and the aquarium is completely cleaned. Next, methylene blue is added to the water in a prophylactic dose. Feeding for 14 days should be as nutritious as possible, which is why it is recommended to feed live food. To prevent illness, all inhabitants of the home pond must be fed high-quality food. The best option is to use live and frozen food.

Feeding

What to feed? Angelfish are omnivores; they eat any type of food in an aquarium: live, frozen and artificial. The basis of feeding can be high-quality flakes, and additionally give live and frozen food: tubifex, bloodworms, brine shrimp, and coretra. It is important to know two things, they are gluttons and cannot be overfed, no matter how much they ask. And give bloodworms very carefully, and it is better to refuse it altogether. A slight overfeeding of bloodworms, and the angelfish begins to bloat, so much so that pink bubbles stick out from the anal bladder. It is much safer to feed with branded food, since it is now of high quality.

Angelfish can pick off tender plants, although not often. They regularly tear off the tops of my eleocharis and tear off the moss from the snags. In this case, you can add food with spriulina to the diet.

Compatibility with other fish

The selection of neighbors for angelfish should be based on the compatibility of several factors:

• preferred environmental conditions;
• aggression of the angelfish towards the species;
• aggression of the species towards the angelfish;
• decorative qualities.

Thus, swordtails, lalius, ancistrus, mollies, gouramis, and guppies are considered ideal neighbors for angelfish. If you wish, you can show your imagination and introduce other species, experiment with combinations of fish. When introducing a new species, you should remember that angelfish can be aggressive towards small fish. Therefore, it is not worth introducing fry into the aquarium - it is better to choose an adult.

Barbs are considered bad neighbors - these generally peaceful fish love to bite off thread-like fins.