Angelfish or what may be commonly known as Angelfish does have its own charm.
This fish in terms of shape is indeed similar to discus fish , apart from the shape of the two fish, they are both derived from cichlid fish.
| Difficulty level of care | Easy – medium |
| Size | Height: 33cm, length: 18cm (depending on the type) |
| Age | Can be up to 10 years more |
| Characteristic | Calm, but can be aggressive |
| Family | Cichlid |
| Food | omnivore |
How to care for Angelfish
The size of the aquarium is suitable for Angelfish
Angelfish is not a fish that can be kept in a small aquarium. As you can see in the table above, Angelfish can grow to a height of 33 cm and a length of 18 cm.
Of course this size will be different for each type of Angelfish, but the maximum size that can be achieved by Angelfish is that size.
So, the aquarium size that I think is the most suitable and also widely recommended is a minimum of 22 gallons (83 liters), or the best is 55 gallons (208 liters).
If you use a 22 gallon aquarium, it’s probably still a good idea to keep 3-4 Angelfish. If a 55 gallon aquarium can accommodate at least 5-6 adult Angelfish.
Temperature and pH for Angelfish
Angelfish comes from South America, namely the Amazon River area. That way, it can be said that Angelfish is very suitable for living in Indonesia because it has a tropical climate like South America.
Angelfish can be kept with temperatures between 25.5 o C – 30 o C. If you want to raise Angelfish, the temperature you can try is 27.7 o C. Angelfish are not too picky about pH, if your water has a pH between 6-8 then you should be safe to keep Angelfish.
Also Read – Sparkling Gourami Care Guide, Size, Breeding, Tank Mates
Using an aerator
Should Angelfish use an aerator? Maybe some of you have asked about this.
In my opinion, the use of aerators is optional or not a must. Of course, there is nothing wrong with using an aerator because it will add dissolved oxygen in the water and can also be used as decoration, for example because of the bubbles.
However, if you don’t want to use an aerator, that’s fine too. As long as your aquarium has water movement so that there is an exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
You also need to pay attention if you see signs of Angelfish lack of oxygen which may be due to the fish in the aquarium is quite large and not balanced with the available oxygen.
If so, you should add an aerator so that the Angelfish does not lack oxygen in the aquarium.
Angelfish fish food
In general, Angelfish are omnivores, aka eat everything. In their natural habitat, these fish eat everything from worms to other small animals in the water.
If you keep Angelfish, the easiest food to give is pellets. In addition to pellets, you can alternate with frozen worms, up to tubifex worms. If you cultivate Angelfish, you can provide food such as artemia for Angelfish fry.
Drain the aquarium regularly
An equally important part of keeping all types of fish is draining the aquarium regularly to keep the water clean. I usually drain my aquarium once a week by reducing the water by around 20%-30%.
It’s best not to drain 100% of the water because there may be a drastic difference in water temperature before and after the water is changed. Water changes also ensure that levels of ammonia that are toxic to fish are reduced.
Fish that can be combined with Angelfish
Angelfish can be said to be quite territorial because this fish is in the same family as cichlids, which are territorial in nature. In addition, Angelfish can also be aggressive and may eat fish or animals that are smaller and fit in their mouth.
Therefore, you have to be careful in choosing fish if you want to keep other fish together with Angelfish. In addition to Angelfish that can hurt other fish, other fish can also hurt Angelfish.
Because Angelfish have nice, large fins, they can usually attract the attention of other fish and can injure the fins of the Angelfish. I have experienced this with guppies that I keep, guppies attack/bully other guppies so that their fins are damaged.
Not only does this damage the fins, other fast-moving fish are also likely to finish their food faster so the Angelfish don’t get enough food.
So, a suitable fish is a fish that has a size that is not too small. For example, tetra fish that are not too small, such as adult cardinal tetras, to medium-sized broom fish.
Angelfish disease
Angelfish swimming sideways
If the Angelfish swims sideways, then the possible cause is the swim bladder . This disease is caused by digestive disorders in Angelfish so that it disturbs the balance of the fish.
Usually, the cause is the food given is not varied or excessive to give certain foods.
Some people suggest giving “vegetables” so that the digestive tract of Angelfish is smoother.
Peas that are boiled, peeled, and then mashed with fingers before being put into the aquarium are said to help the digestion of Angelfish to eliminate swin bladder .
Worm/nematode infection
Angelfish are quite susceptible to attack by nematodes or worms. Usually worms can be found in food that is not sterile / clean or from an aquarium that is dirty.
If infected, the worms will absorb the nutrients obtained by the fish. The longer the fish will weaken, bleeding and inflammation occurs.
This infection can also spread to other fish, so it’s best if you see one of the strange Angelfish immediately move it to a special place so it doesn’t spread to other fish.
Hexamita parasite attack
Another disease that often attacks cichlid fish is the hexamita parasite. If exposed to this parasite, the fish’s body will look like a hole.
This disease is quite common to attack cichlid fish. To cure this disease, maybe you can look for drugs that can fight the hexamita parasite.
It seems that there are now enough drugs sold online to treat this disease.
Can Angelfish fins grow?
The unique fin is one of the attractions of the Angelfish. However, what if the fin is damaged?
Can Angelfish fins grow again? The answer is it can be yes and it can be no. It all depends on the level of damage from the fins themselves. If it’s not too severe, then the damaged fin can grow back in a few weeks. However, if it is too severe, it is possible that the Angelfish fins will not be able to grow again.
Angelfish breeding
Difference between male and female Angelfish
It is quite difficult to tell the difference between male and female Angelfish. However, there are some points of difference.
- The first difference is that the male Angelfish has a more rounded shape than the female.
- Then the male Angelfish has a larger head lump than the female.
- The front fin of the male Angelfish looks forked, while that of the female is unbranched.
- The final difference lies in the part between the front and bottom fins. In male Angelfish, this section is smaller or pointed, while in female Angelfish this section is more likely to be blunt.
How to mate Angelfish
Breeding Angelfish is not an easy job. Chances are you will be confused about the difference between male and female Angelfish because at first glance they are the same.
The thing that can be done is to let the two of them pair naturally. After the Angelfish are seen in pairs, then the pair is moved to a special place.
Usually Angelfish will lay their eggs in an upright or vertical place, such as the glass of the aquarium, wood, or even on the leaves of plants that are quite stiff.
So, you can prepare it so that the Angelfish have a choice of where to lay their eggs.
After the female Angelfish lays eggs, the male Angelfish will fertilize the eggs. Then, the eggs will likely hatch within two or three days.
How Many Angelfish Spawn?
Angelfish can lay up to 1000 eggs each time the female lays an egg. Angelfish that are ready to spawn or breed can lay eggs every week or two if the eggs that were previously removed/removed or lost due to eating.
Although the number of eggs reaches thousands, not all of these eggs will hatch and become perfect fish.