Angel Fish

When first starting an aquarium, begin with one species. Let that species get adjusted to your environment and you accustomed to caring for them before introducing another. One species you could start with is angel fish.

Cichlids – It’s a funny name but for beautiful fish. The fish are disk-shaped with pectoral fins that resemble sails. These fish can grow up to six inches long and ten inches wide. They are normally found in the warm climates of South and Central America and Africa but can make their home with you. There are other cichlids with bright, sparkling scales like the Ram and the Geophagus. Beware though – cichlids are territorial. They may not get along with catfish because they like to claim the entire tank as their territory. One of the more popular cichlids is angelfish. They have striking colourful stripes and long pointed rays.

Since angelfish grow pretty big, you will need a large tank to accommodate them. And, you won’t need to have too many in one tank.

There are several angelfish varieties. Most people are used to seeing the brownish yellow colouring with black stripes across the sides. Some angelfish are brightly coloured but with no markings on their sides. It just depends on the variety you find and what you want for your tank.

By the looks of them, they seem delicate but they can stand more than most think. Angelfish are freshwater fish but they are used to a certain environment in the Amazon. They like soft water with a lower than neutral pH (acidic).

Ideally, they like to live with live plants. They provide more oxygen and help clean the environment. You’ll have to be careful with the ammonia levels in the water since these fish like to at a minimum. This means having a good filtration system to keep the levels low.

Feeding your fish is the next step. Angelfish will eat pellets and flakes but like a little variation in their diet as well. Throw in a bloodworm or two from time to time and some brine shrimp to mix things up.

Angelfish are also aggressive. Don’t let their beautiful delicateness fool you. Pairing them with betta fish, tetras or guppies is not recommended unless you want a bloodbath. Since most beginners start with one breed, keeping just angelfish may be best.

Angelfish lay lots of eggs. They give birth to live fry (young) and are great parents. They can live with the young without fear that they will eat them in their infancy. But you will need a larger tank if you don’t plan on selling those new angelfish to breeders. They do like clean areas to lay eggs so you may need to have a separate tank just for breeding.

Watch your angelfish carefully. They are susceptible to illness if you don’t take care of the water. It’s called Hole in the head. No one wants that.

Are you considering angelfish for your freshwater aquarium? They are beautiful fish that grow large and breed fast. Give them plenty of room to move and good food in a stable aqua environment and they will stay happy forever.