Angelfish snow diamond - Pterophyllum scalare

The Snow Diamond Angelfish is a great color variation of the popular sailfin, also called Common Angelfish. Careful breeding and selection have given it a successful triumph in aquaristics. Scientifically called Pterophyllum scalare it originates from calm river sections of the Rio Negro up to the Amazon basin. This evergreen of aquaristics is quite an old hand and still enjoys great popularity today. Especially for black water aqu ariums or South American tanks it is a great candidate!

You get our Snow Diamond mixed sexed, depending on how the animals swim into the net.

Typical for the Angelfish is the round body with the flattened sides, as well as the name-giving long pointed "sail fins". The mouth is pointed and terminal. The total height of the angelfish appears to be almost twice as high due to the long extended fins. When fully grown they reach a height of almost 26 centimeters and a length of almost 15 centimeters. Therefore, if possible, they should be kept only in high aquariums, which have a height of at least 60 centimeters, so that the great animals do not bump with the fins. The angelfish can live for almost 10 years if well cared for in the aquarium, making it a long-lived family member. At about 6 months they become sexually mature for the first time and are fully grown at 24 months.

Since the external sex differentiation is quite complex, angelfish should be kept in a group. So after a while harmonizing couples form, until then the swarm swims together more or less in loose groups. The typical "bull's forehead" also serves as a sexual characteristic in the male angelfish, but it happens that even females occasionally develop this. They indicate their readiness to mate by profusely preening a possible spawning substrate, which can be large leaves of aquatic plants such as Amazon swordfish, but also other smooth surfaces such as the top of rocks. She lays her eggs on them in long rows, which the male then fertilizes. Because breeding in a community aquarium is rather difficult due to potential spawn predators, angelfish should better be propagated in a spawning and rearing aquarium. The parents defend their fry and also the young fish vehemently.

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 generously dimensioned swimming space for the elegant Snow Diamond 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 Snow Diamond 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.

Your Snow Diamond 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.