Angel fish are the most commonly preferred aquarium fish. They are mostly prized for their exotic variety, color and size. The scientific name for angel fish is Pterophyllum scalare. They have a compressed, disc like shape with long fins coming out of the top and bottom and have 2 'feelers' in front of the anal or bottom fin. The shape of the tail differs from variety to variety. It is vertically oriented and vary from scoop shovel shape to long and relatively narrow shape.
Angel fish originated in the Amazon region of America. It can measure up to 6 in length. Naturally occurring angelfish are frequently striped longitudinally, coloration which provides additional camouflage. Angel fish are known to prey upon small fish. Although it can survive on flake food alone, their live food consists of Adult Brine Shrimp, Black Worms and Mosquito larvae.They can also be raised on a diet of raw beef heart,finely chopped earthworm and Guppy fry.
Spawning takes place due to a partial change in the water and rise in its tempature to between 80 and 82 degrees F. One sure sign that spawning is about to occur is the appearance of the pair's genital papillae. The female's ovipositor is larger and more blunt than the male's which is slender and more pointed. These protuberances which appear at the vent are used respectively for depositing eggs and fertilizing them. The obvious differences in the genital papillae are the first completely reliable indication of sex determination. For spawning a pair of Angel fish chooses a particular site, usually leaves or slate.
This is followed by a day or two of proper cleaning. Finally, both the male and the female angel few conduct a few tests to finalize the site. Eggs can hatch within 36 to 48 hours depending on the temperature of the water.color patterns of an angel fish can vary from silver (most common) to golden. There are Silver, Zebra, Black lace, Half Black, Veiltail, Marble, Golden, Blushing and pearl scale variety of Angel fish. Among these silver is the most commonly available kind of Angel fish.It is also the hardiest and the most attractive form of Angel fish.
Marine Angel fish are significantly different from the fresh water ones. They are commonly found on shallow reefs in the tropical Atlantic, Indian, and mostly western Pacific oceans. They have streamer-like extensions of the soft dorsal and anal fins and may reach a length of upto 60 cm.They tend to be bold and seemingly fearless, and are known to approach divers. Common to many species is a dramatic shift in coloration associated with maturity. For example, young male ornate angelfish, Genicanthus bellus, have broad, black bands and are indistinguishable from females; as they mature, bright orange bands develop on the flanks and back. 87 species of marine Angel fish has been identified till now.
Angel fish can be prone to diseases like Ichthyophthirius or Ich otherwise known as white spot disease and Exophthalmia or Pop-Eye. Such diseases are caused by bacterial infection. However Angelfish are apparently not as apt to contract the common diseases that other tropical fish are prone to. In proper environmental conditions they can survive for long period of time.
Angel fish
