SOUTH AMERICAN CICHLIDS.
Order Perciformes
Family Cichlidae
Subfamily ( Cichlasomatinae )
Genus Pterophyllum
In the tropical regions of South America, these fish inhabit standing or slow-flowing waters of coastal zones overgrown with reeds, among thickets of aquatic plants and reeds, where they find protection from enemies and suitable conditions for spawning. Their nearly round body, thanks to greatly elongated dorsal and anal fins, acquires a crescent-like shape, and the extended thread-like processes of the pelvic fins allow these timid and cautious creatures to maneuver among vegetation and hide from enemies in time. This is also aided by their modest yet very attractive coloration. They also inhabit completely different biotopes. For example, angelfish are often found in rocky crevices of steep riverbanks.
There are 3 known species in nature. The most widespread is P. scalare from the middle Amazon and its tributaries. Wide geographical distribution determines the formation of many varieties differing in appearance and coloration. L. Schultz established that all angelfish bred today, despite the abundance of forms and colors, belong to the species P. scalare. As a result of years of breeding and selection work, many differently colored mutant forms have been obtained.
— Pterophyllum altum [Pellegrin, 1903] — Altum Angelfish, Orinoco Angelfish. Amazon basin – upper Rio Negro; Orinoco basin – Inirida and Atabapo rivers. Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia. According to H. Bleher, true Pterophyllum altum are found only in Orinoco tributaries, while high-bodied angelfish from the upper Rio Negro are a variety of Pterophyllum scalare. The body is very thin and disc-shaped, eyes often red. Up to 18 cm long and 35-40 cm high. The body is high, rhomboid, and they are also much larger than the other two species.
High-bodied angelfish (Pterophyllum altum) are imported less frequently than the common angelfish (P. scalare), which are bred in large quantities for sale. The main external difference between P. altum and P. scalare is size; it is about one and a half times larger and in natural conditions reaches 40 cm in height (mainly due to the dorsal and anal fins), whereas the common angelfish rarely exceeds 15-20 cm.
The main body color of the altum angelfish is greenish-gray, silvery with a sheen. The back is slightly darker, of a greenish-brown tone. Six vertical dark stripes run across the body, crossing it and extending onto the dorsal and anal fins, with the first, third, and fifth usually being more pronounced. Dark spotting may appear between the stripes.
The dorsal and anal fins are greatly elongated, triangular, with extended thread-like filaments in adult fish. The pelvic fins are thread-like, elongated, extending far beyond the anal fin. The outer rays of the caudal fin are sickle-shaped and elongated. Several dark strokes cross the caudal fin. The female during the spawning period is much fuller than the male. Her body is unusually high, and her snout curves upward, making her look like she has a “saddle nose”.
A characteristic feature of P. altum is the sharp transition between the forehead and the strongly elongated snout with a saddle-like depression. The true altum can be distinguished not only by its extremely high body and fins (not seen in any other Pterophyllum), but also by its extremely protruding snout, reddish color of the stripes, the presence of wide additional shaded stripes on the body (not seen in other species), and scales that are noticeably smaller than in the other two species. Along with true P. altum, there are similar ones called “Rio Negro altum” and “Peruvian altum”, which are varieties of P. scalare.
The aquarium for these large fish should, of course, be of sufficient size, both long and high, as the fish establish territories. They require soft water and a high temperature of 28-30°C, and it should not be allowed to drop below 26°C. They are predators and can eat a 3 cm tetra, so they should not be kept with small fish. They live up to 10 years.
— Pterophyllum leopoldi [Gosse, 1963] — Leopold’s Angelfish, Redspotted Freshwater Angelfish. Synonym: Plataxoides leopoldi. Inhabits the middle Amazon, from Manacapuru to Santarem, Brazil, as well as the Rupununi River, Solimões, tributary of the Essequibo River, Guyana. 10-15 cm. The body is strongly compressed laterally.
Silvery-gray with dark transverse stripes. It differs from other species of the genus by a broad nape, straight pre-dorsal contour, and several pattern features, including in particular a characteristic large black spot under the dorsal fin (a trait found only in this species), in the area of which the fourth vertical dark stripe ends. Between the 1st and 2nd stripes from the back, there are 2 short transverse stripes; between the 2nd and 3rd stripes near the back, there is a black spot that may be extended downwards.
The dorsal and anal fins are never fully spread out like in other angelfish, but are at an angle of 66-80° to the body. It is the only one of the three species that has a slightly or strongly downward-pointing snout. The male is larger, has a steeper forehead, and is more brightly colored than the female. The female is fuller and paler in coloration. Before spawning, the coloration of the fish becomes more contrasty.
— Pterophyllum scalare, dumerillii [Lichtenstein, 1823] — Angelfish, Freshwater Angelfish, Green Flame Angelfish, Perlscalar, Red Eye Albino Angelfish, Veil Angelfish, Silver Angelfish. Synonyms: Pterophyllum eimekei. Amazon basin, Tapajos River and other tributaries. Most common in aquariums. Body length up to 20 cm, and fish height (including fins) can reach almost 30 cm. In artificial conditions, their size heavily depends on the aquarium volume and rarely reaches 10 cm. Fish in a large aquarium reach a length of 10-15 cm, body height of 12-20 cm. They live 10-15 years.
The high disc-shaped body resembles a triangle with strongly elongated dorsal and anal fins. The main coloration of the angelfish body varies greatly, ranging from greenish-gray to olive with a silvery sheen, darker on the back. The back is darker than the belly. On the silvery-shiny sides and head, there are four velvety-black transverse stripes, which, depending on the fish’s mood or external conditions, can fade and almost disappear.
The first stripe starts from the dorsal fin and stretches through the head, eye to the beginning of the pelvic fins. The second goes from the first rays of the dorsal fin to the anal opening. The third, widest one, passes through the dorsal and anal fins and the body; the fourth seems to separate the caudal fin from the fish’s body. In young angelfish, three more stripes are clearly visible; in adults, they usually disappear. The dorsal and anal fins are long and pointed in opposite directions, while the pectoral fins are small and dark in color. The pelvic fins are thread-like and long.
Males are somewhat larger, their forehead is steeper and wider, and the dorsal fin is slightly longer, but this only becomes apparent in the second year of life. The female has a small bump near the genital opening and a slightly more convex belly. Sexual dimorphism is not clearly expressed; only older males can be recognized by a larger head with a small fatty bump. If mature fish are viewed from the front, the lower part of the body looks like a sharp wedge in the male and a blunt wedge in the female.
As a result of many years of selective breeding, modern aquarium angelfish are colored in the most bizarre colors: striped, black, marble, gold, smoky, two- and three-color, green. The veil form with even more elongated fins is also widespread. However, the wild form of Pterophyllum scalare can no longer be found in aquariums, as over the years it has interbred with selective varieties.
Keeping angelfish in the aquarium.
Nannacara anomala, aureocephalus, quadrispinae, taenia. 
