How to Keep Angelfish

Angelfish are among the most graceful and popular tropical fish kept today. As cichlids, they are intelligent and can be trained to come to a particular spot in the aquarium to be fed. Some people even claim that they recognize the people who feed them. To keep angelfish, a tropical aquarium setup is necessary, but after a few basic requirements are met, angelfish make long-lived and fascinating pets. If you enjoy keeping fish, angelfish will make a great addition to your collection.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Aquarium
• Heater
• Filter system
• Net
• Thermometer
• Water treatment kit
• Plastic bucket
• Plastic tubing or aquarium vacuum

Preparing an Aquarium for Angelfish

1. Select an aquarium that is at least 10 gallons; 20 would be better. Tall display tanks rather than long aquariums allow angelfish more movement and promote schooling. Angelfish grow to 6 inches in length in captivity and like to move around. They can also generate a burst of speed from a dead stop. Giving them some room to maneuver is important. As an added bonus, in a large aquarium a school of angelfish can be an impressive sight.

2. Fill the aquarium with water, reserving four inches of open area at the top.

3. Age and remove chemicals from the water using the suggestions of your local tropical fish dealer. Local water conditions vary, as do the policies of local water districts regarding additives. Your tropical fish dealer will have the best information on creating sustainable water for keeping angelfish and other tropical fish.

4. Heat prepared aquarium water to a temperature between 75 and 82 degrees F using an aquarium heater sold for this purpose. A heating system should be in place in the aquarium at all times.

5. Check the aquarium thermometer regularly for the first few days to make sure there are no temperature fluctuations. If you set the thermometer for 78 degrees F, make sure that it maintains that temperature to within one to two degrees, night and day.

6. Add a filter system to your aquarium setup. This can be an under gravel filter, a box filter, an external filter or a combination. Filter systems are generally sold with ratings for specific aquarium sizes. Large fish, like angelfish, need filtered water. They also need oxygenated water. If you can't provide adequate filtration, angelfish are a poor choice for you.

7. Adjust the water pH in the aquarium if the water in your area tends toward the hard side. Angelfish prefer soft water but can tolerate a range, although hard water should be avoided. Chemical test kits are available that will test and alter the aquarium's water chemistry as needed. If you know who your fish supplier will be, ask them about their water conditions and try to duplicate them.

8. Place sand and a few aquarium ornaments in the bottom of the tank to provide hiding places for your angelfish. This will raise the level of the water in the aquarium to within an inch or two of the top.

9. Include some live and plastic plants to give angelfish a more natural landscape and create a pleasing visual effect.

10. Allow the tank to sit and cure for 48 hours after you have it prepared. Test the temperature and water chemistry periodically to make sure it is stable and consistent.

Introducing Angelfish to the Aquarium

11. Purchase angelfish only after you are sure the aquarium is ready for them. Ask the store about the water conditions in their fish tanks to verify that your water's pH is consistent with theirs. If there is a big difference, adjust the water accordingly before you buy the fish, or buy fish somewhere else.

12. Buy only a couple of fish at a time and select specimens that are about equal in size, are alert, have upright, undamaged fins, and are free of injuries or scars. Bring them home as soon as you buy them and protect them from harsh weather conditions in transit by putting their bag in an insulated bag if the temperatures outdoors are very cold or hot.

13. Place their container (usually a plastic bag) in the aquarium. Don't remove the fish. Let the bag float on the surface of the water for at least 20 minutes. This will allow the fish to adapt to any temperature change between the water at the store to the water in their new home.

14. Release the fish and observe them closely. After an hour they should be curious about their surroundings and beginning to explore.

15. Avoid feeding the angelfish on the first night.

Caring for Angelfish

16. Set up a feeding routine with meals of dry flake food supplemented with the occasional meal of worms or brine shrimp. Live or frozen fish food will help keep your angelfish in good condition. You should never feed fish more than they can eat in five minutes.

17. Make small frequent water changes of about 10 to 15 percent of the water in your aquarium each week. Replacement water should be treated for chemicals and brought up to the same temperature as the water in the aquarium. When possible, siphon old water from the bottom of the aquarium where heavy chemicals and debris accumulate.

18. Observe your angelfish often, watching for signs of trouble. Keeping angelfish is easy if you catch potential problems early. White spots on fins, clamped fins, swimming erratically and listlessness are all signs of illness or distress.

19. Add any new fish carefully, making sure that you are introducing gentle fish that are healthy and require the same conditions as exist in your aquarium.

Tips & Warnings

• The scientific name for the angelfish is Pterophyllum scalare. It is a native of South America, although most of the stock available in pet stores is domestically bred.
• Angelfish grow rapidly. Buying too many fish for the size of an aquarium will eventually make fish sick when they grow too large for their surroundings.
• Don't place angelfish in any aquarium until you are sure that the aquarium water is safe for fish and maintains a temperature within a couple of degrees of the optimal range.
• Always think carefully before placing foreign objects in the aquarium. Aquariums maintain a delicate balance, and anything new can present potential problems.
• Never use cleaning solvents around the aquarium.
• Never tap on the glass of the aquarium or turn on the lights abruptly when the room is dark. Startled angelfish can rush at the aquarium glass in an effort to flee and injure themselves.