As far as tropical fish go, few are quite as strikingly beautiful and unique as the angel fish. It’s only been in the past century or so that angel fish have been kept in captivity, and their natural habitats along the Orinoco and Amazon river basins in South America means that they do need a little extra care and maintenance to keep them healthy and happy.
Angel fish are available in a wide assortment of colours, ranging from silver to black marble, gold, zebra, panda, koi, and many others. Their bodies are extremely thin and flat, so vertically they’re remarkably thin and can blend in with flora and prey on other fish when wild, but from the sides they’re large and triangular in shape.
Here are a few tips on how to care for these divinely inspired tropical fish:
01. Choose a Large Enough Tank
Angelfish do need quite a bit of space for the best results. At the very smallest, aim for a 40 litre tank for a single angel fish, and consider 57 litres or more for pairs or groups of them. Their bodies are thin from the front profile, but long from the side with long fins that need plenty of space.
Moreover, angel fish can sometimes be territorial, so you certainly don’t want to have them fighting over space and you should always have enough generous space in your aquarium for them to roam around in.
02. Keep Their Water Warm
As a tropical fish native to the warm rivers found in South America, angel fish must have adequately warm tanks. Try to keep it stable between 25°C and 28°C, and if possible, try to add a little acidity to the water as this replicates their natural habitat quite well.
03. Decorate Their Tank Naturally
As with many other breeds of tropical fish, angel fish do enjoy surroundings that feel natural to them. Little shrubs and plants, live or natural, as well as little rock formations and perhaps some coral at the bottom should give them quite a bit of variety.
In the wild, angel fish are predators that feed on smaller fish. They do this by hiding length-wise amongst plants. Their ultra-thin front profile helps them blend in, and coloured stripes further help them camouflage. Giving them tall plants can help them feel more at home.
Given their long and fragile side profile, however, it’s important to make sure that any decor is free of sharp edges or rough spots where they could hurt themselves.
04. Feed Them a Healthy Diet
Angel fish are omnivores and predators, so of course they’ll enjoy fresh little shrimp or bloodworms. Food pellets or flakes are a great everyday food that you can use to keep them nourished and happy, but aim for two regular feedings per day and don’t be afraid to overfeed (just a little) if they’re living in groups with other species.
When food competition is high, angel fish can become aggressive. They’re classified as a semiaggressive fish, and a shortage of food can have them return to their natural ways and try feasting on some of your smaller fish.
05. Give Your Angel Fish Some Friends
Angel fish are a little prickly with most other goldfish and small fish. They get along well with other angel fish and catfish, but they are predators after all and might want to nibble on smaller fish if given the opportunity.
Try to be selective when considering mates for your angel fish. There’s nothing wrong with having a tank with just a few angel fish and no other kind inside, and it may actually be safer this way.
Zen Aquarium
Buy fresh angel fish and all of your aquarium supplies from Zen Aquarium.