Angelfish red ghost - Pterophyllum scalare

A great color variation of the popular sailfin is the Red Ghost Angelfish. With its red eyes and red head, it is a great splash of color in your aquarium that is guaranteed to cause a stir. It owes its triumph in the aquaristics to strict selection and breeding. Originally, the ornamental fish, also called Pterophyllum scalare, originates from calm river sections of the Rio Negro up to the Amazon basin. In aquaristics it has always been an evergreen and still enjoys great popularity. Especially in the black water tank or in the South American tank it cuts a fine figure and can be socialized very well.

Our angelfish are shipped mixed sexed, depending on how they swim into the tank.

The round physique with the flattened sides is typical for the angelfish, it owes its name to its pointed sail fins. Due to its fins, its total height appears almost double, when fully grown they reach a size of about 26 cm and 15 cm in length. For this reason an aquarium that is rather high than long is advantageous, so that the great animals do not bump with the fins. With good care the angelfish can live almost 10 years and is sexually mature from 6 months. Fully grown they are only with 2 years.

Because it is difficult to distinguish the sexes purely externally, angelfish should be kept in groups. Harmonizing pairs are formed with the time, as long as the swarm swims more or less loosely together. The typical bull's forehead in the male is an external sex characteristic, but it may be that some females also develop this. They indicate their readiness to mate by preening rocks, and they also often use large-leaved plants such as sword plants for this purpose. Breeding is basically possible, but a rearing aquarium is more advantageous.

Group keeping of angelfish is recommended from 3 animals. Your aquarium should be rather higher than longer and hold at least 300 liters. Especially in too small or too low aquariums they get quite fast into a stress situation, from which they can fall ill. With bogwood roots, but also stone structures secured against falling over, a good underwater infrastructure can be created, which serves the animals both as a territorial boundary but also as a visual protection and establishes the hierarchy. Nevertheless a generous swimming space for the elegant Koi Angelfish should not be disregarded, therefore the planting can also be located at the edges or in the background. Their demands regarding water values are somewhat more demanding with angelfish, regular temperate water changes and good hygiene are mandatory. They tolerate a total hardness between 3 and 15 °dGH, a pH between 6 and 7.5. To support their well-being, enrichment with humic substances in the form of alder cones, peat products or sea almond tree leaves is recommended.

The Red Ghost Angelfish is also well suited for a community aquarium, if you do not have too big breeding ambitions. Especially Corydoras, Loricariids but also larger South American tetras are well suited. Less suitable, however, are pronounced fin-biters such as Red of Rio or Blood Tetras, because these can sensitively injure the long pectoral fins of the angelfish. Snails, like the anthracite Limpet or Racing snails remain mostly untroubled by the angelfish and fit perfectly into his aquarium. Shrimps, however, live rather dangerously and are often regarded as a snack.

The Koi Angelfish is a pure carnivore, which should only be fed with very high quality food. Besides flake food and dry food it also accepts sinking granules and can now and then be spoiled with Mosquito larvae, Artemia or Water fleas.

Our food recommendation: The NatureHolic Cichfeed has a grain size of 1.5 mm and is therefore also suitable for larger fish. The NH Cichfeed is a soft granulate for predominantly 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 mouth from micro-injuries that can result from hard feed granules.

Our plant recommendation: For planting, use 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 when 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 husbandry.