2x Angelfish Black - Pterophyllum scalare - DNZ

Also called sailfin or common angel fish, the black  angelfish are a breeding form of Pterophyllum scalare from the rainforest region. As one of the first imported aquarium fishes, they still inspire aquarists today with their imposing appearance and variety of colors. Thanks to persistent selection and intensive breeding we have today a wide range of colors of angelfish, which enrich our aquariums and enjoy at least the same fame as the well-known live-bearing toothcarps.
From the Rio Negro to the Amazon basin, the natural habitat of these sailfin fishes extends. They prefer to live in rather calm river sections. In a black water aquarium or an Amazon biotope they are therefore not only well to do but also great to show off!

Our black angelfish are German offspring, which you get in pairs.

Typical for the angelfish is the round body with long and pointed "sail fins", also the terminal mouth. The fins can each double the total body height; it grows up to 26 cm high and almost 15 cm long, which is why its keeping is only suitable for high aquariums. The almost raven black fish looks mysterious and elegant at the same time. Even its pelvic fins are thread-like. For almost 10 years the faithful angelfish accompanies its keeper. At the age of almost 6 months, angelfish already reach sexual maturity. Thereby they are almost three quarters full grown. Only at about 2.5 years they are fully grown.

Black angelfish can be distinguished only with difficulty in the sex, so that a group attitude with several animals is recommended. After some time harmonizing pairs are found, as long as the group lives more or less loosely, but also swims together at times, the group cohesion is very important, especially for young animals.
Even if the "bull's forehead" of the males as a sex characteristic to draw would be a possibility, however, also partly the females form these. By cleaning possible spawning substrates, animals ready to mate indicate their ambitions. In long rows the female lays her eggs, which are fertilized by the male. Breeding is possible in a community aquarium, but not very promising with appropriate by-fish. A spawning aqu arium is much better suited for this purpose. Both parents guard and defend the fry and also the young fish.

The group keeping of at least 5 animals in high aquariums from 300 liters is recommended due to their extraordinary body height. Especially the aquarium height should be more important than the length when keeping sailfin. The aquarium should be at least 60 cm if not higher. Permanent stress and anxiety can be caused especially by aquariums that are too low, which can quickly make them sick. With a good infrastructure occasional clarifications of the hierarchy can be prevented somewhat. Bog roots and rock structures that mark territories and prevent visual contact are good for this. A generous swimming space should be considered in the design, also large-leaved sword plants are excellent, because the females like to spawn especially on these leaves. Angelfish can be a bit more demanding concerning their aquarium water and prefer a very good water hygiene. The soft to medium hard water preferably has a total hardness of 3 to 15 °dGH and a pH-value between 6,0-7,5. Regular water changes with tempered changing water are recommended, also enriching with Alder cones, Sea almond tree products or liquid Humic substancesto support the body's own immune defense of the animals.

Especially by-fish like Corydoras, Ancistrus and larger tetras are excellent in the Angelfish aquarium. However, pronounced fin-biters such as Sumatra barbs, Red of Rio or blood tetras should be avoided. Smallest crustaceans and invertebrates end with the black angelfish gladly as intermediate snack. Snails usually remain unmolested.

The Black Angelfish aquarium fish as a carnivore can be optimally fed with a very high quality dry food in the form of flake food or granulated food. To enrich his diet regularly with qualitatively impeccable and very high quality frozen food and live food, such as Artemia, mosquito larvae, daphnia or water fleas should be self-evident.

Our food recommendation: The NatureHolic Cichfeed has a grain size of 1.5 mm and is therefore also suitable for larger fish. NH Cichfeed is a soft granulate for mainly carnivorous ornamental fish. It has the same consistency as small crustaceans and insect larvae that fish naturally eat, and the soft granules protect the fish's mouth from micro-injuries that can result from hard feed granules.

Our plant recommendation: Use for planting NatureHolic InVitros. These are free of snails, planarians and other unwanted co-inhabitants. Also free of algae spores, bacteria and fungi.

Expert Tip: We recommend for fish keeping the NatureHolic 3 Phase Liquid. The care set offers the best all-round protection for your animals. It ensures optimal conditions for successful breeding and keeping.