Angelfish belong to the cichlid family and can be divided into three species: altum angelfish (Pterophyllum altum), teardrop angelfish (Pterophyllum leopoldi) and angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare), as described here. Although Pterophyllum scalare can reach a length of up to 15 cm and height of approx. 25 cm, making them far larger than other aquarium fish, they are still among the most popular fish in the fishkeeping sector. This is largely due to their extraordinary appearance. They look like they have been flattened from the side and have a rather pointed mouth. Their unusual body shape and different-length fin rays on the dorsal and anal fins therefore make them look somewhat triangular. Angelfish are native to South America, where they can mainly be found in calm, slow-flowing water bodies and rain forest rivers in Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Guyana. If kept correctly, they can live for up to 15 years. It is hard to distinguish between males and females. Pterophyllum scalare are naturally silvery in colour with four characteristic black stripes down their body, although cultivated varieties in other colours are now also available.
