Angelfish, Pterophyllum Scalare, are classified to the family Cichlidae. This family is also referred to by the name cichlids. These fish originated in the river systems of South America.

Angels are elegant and graceful creatures. Angelfish are an all time favorite among fish lovers throughout the world. Their distinctive body structure inarguably facilitated their unparalleled popularity. They come in a multitude of color palettes, from unadorned to banded, marbled, black, golden, or Koi. Due of their popularity they can be found at virtually any shop that markets. These fish are inexpensive to buy. Freshwater angels are one of the most worry free species you can have.

It is easy to be misled by those sweet little fish in the pet shop. The angelfish exhibited in the pet stores are juveniles. Angels normally reach six inches in length upon maturity. They can be kept in an aquarium as small as 10 gallons however 20 gallons and up is preferable.

Angelfish have mild mannered dispositions. They are ideal community dwellers. A note of caution: They will instinctively deem smaller varieties of fish as a food source. Do not keep them with smaller fish like rasboras, glofish and guppies. It is also ill advisable mixing angels with species like barbs and tetras. Both of these varieties are fin nippers by nature. An angelfish's long, flowing fins will make for an alluring taste treat, too enticing to leave behind.

Angelfish are omnivores. Their diet should consist of both plant and animal matter. You will want to make sure to purchase a fish food that is formulated for omnivores as their main staple. A high quality flake food is all you will need to keep your angelfish on top of it game. Many aquarists prefer to provide a variety of dietary supplements in addition to the primary diet. Although this is not mandatory, it is recommended. You might want to ask yourself; would you want to have the exact same thing for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day of your life? A diverse regimen will help to prevent the possibility of any nutritional deficiencies. Crushed seaweed sheets are a wonderful supplement for omnivores. Protein based supplements such as brine shrimp, tubifex and bloodworms make ideal dietary supplements. If you can not find them fresh, frozen and freeze-dried preparations are available commercially.

Angelfish originate from the Amazon River. They are best suited to water with a slightly acidic base. A pH balance of 6.8 and temperatures between 72-86 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. If properly cared for an angelfish may live in excess of 10 years.

When it comes to parenting, freshwater fish can be divided into two basic categories. There are those species that will abandon their unborn eggs or even ingest them with no regard to parental obligations. Then there are the species that express varying amounts of parental instinct. All cichlids fall to some extent in the second category. Angelfish are what is known as open brooders. This simply means that they will prepare a flat surface like a rock or piece of wood in order to lay their eggs on. A common trait among brooders is that they will guard over the brood until they hatch. Typically the male stands guard over his future offspring while the female tends to the eggs. After the eggs are hatched, both parents will take an active role in tending their offspring.

Housing a fish in a volume of water that is too small could very well facilitate its death. Any conscientious pet owner wouldn't think about keeping an angelfish an ultra-thin wall mounted aquarium. To discover more on your favorite freshwater aquarium fish see my fish buying guide.

• Flame Angelfish : Care And Requirements Of Centropyge Loriculus by Gabriela Desouyez Among the most spectacularly colored dwarf angelfish, the Flame Angelfish (Centropyge Loriculus) has become the most recognizable and the most popular member of the genus centropyge, above the Coral Beauty. Like the Queen Angelfish, almost everyone in the marine aquarium hobby has at one time either owned......
• Golden Angelfish : An In-Depth Look At The Elusive Centropyge Aurantia by Gabriela Desouyez The Golden Angelfish (centropyge Aurantia) is a stunning dwarf angelfish that commands a high price and is fairly difficult to find. The golden angelfish is a difficult angel to keep alive and should only be attempted by those that can properly see to its needs. Normally listed......
• Neon Tetra: What You Need to Know Neon tetras are officially classified to the family Characidae. To most of the world they are known as Characins. This family includes 776 species in 152 different genera. Neons are indigenous to Northwest and Central Brazil, including the Amazon River and its tributaries. Neons are an all time favorite......
• The French Angelfish : Care And Requirements by Gabriela Desouyez The french angelfish (Pomacanthus Paru) is among the three most popular angelfish in the marine aquarium hobby. The Emperor Angelfish and the Queen Angelfish make up the other two. It is closely related to the Gray Angelfish (Pomacanthus Arcuatus) and to the untrained eye they are very......

• California Fishing Report: May 29, 2009 The Feather River, which runs into the Sacramento Bay, is experiencing a number of schools milling around the confluence, and more just up from there between Boyd's Pump and Shanghai Bend. You can fish here early or late for the best results, but make sure to bring the right bait......
• The Regal Tang This fish in addition to the regal tang is also known as the blue surgeonfish, but is properly called Paracanthurus hepatus. The fish must be known to just about every marine aquarist. It is a beautiful blue with a yellow tail, with darker shading along the edge of the dorsal......
• Fish + Food = Fun Keeping a marine aquarium is great. It must be, there are enough people doing it. Reef or fish only, it is a tremendous hobby being educational as well. Having some of Mother Nature’s wonders in the home is an eye catcher for visitors and sometimes becomes consuming for aquarists. There’s......
• Fishing Report for August 8, 2009 This week in the lakes there is a slowing in bass fishing, but still plenty of catfish and Kokanee to be had, as well as crappie. Bass and catfish are more plentiful in the delta areas. As far as saltwater fishing goes, you're likely to find plenty of stripers, Halibut,......

	The Complete Book of the Freshwater Aquarium: A Comprehensive Reference Guide to More Than 600 Freshwater Fish and Plants List Price: $12.98 Sale Price: $8.25 Used From: $7.50
The vivid colors and abundant life found under the water's surface is breathtaking. For years, people have struggled to recreate this magnificent environment in exotic home aquariums. Now with today's technology and scientific understanding, creating a thriving freshwater aquarium is easier than ever...

AquaChef Automatic Aquarium Fish Feeder - 3 in. x 5 14 in. x 3 in. List Price: $31.72 Sale Price: $23.00

Going out of town? Don't rely on out-of-date feeding blocks when you can use the AquaChef. It's easy to give your fish up to eight feedings a day of flake, pellet, or crumbled food. Schedule single feedings for up to four different times, use the double-feeding feature to make any of those four two feedings, sixty seconds apart, or manually override the settings if you decide to give one more feeding yourself...

Written by Stephen J Broy using tags: aquarium, aquariums, Fish, hobbies, hobby, indoors