HomeFreshwater aquarium fishSouth & Central American cichlidsFreshwater angelfish Freshwater angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) Scientific name: Pterophyllum scalare Schultze, 1823 The Freshwater angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) is a freshwater fish of the family Cichlidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 24–30°C (75–86°F). Freshwater angelfish care at a glanceTemperature24–30°C (75–86°F) BiologyBody compressed and disc-shaped; dorsal and anal spiny rays increasing in length from anterior to posterior part of the fin; first branched rays also very long; body height at anal fin level 1.07 to 1.29 times in SL; body color silvery with dark vertical bars (7 in juveniles, 4 in adults).Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific namePterophyllum scalareFamilyCichlidae (Cichlids)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length7.5EnvironmentFreshwater;; pH range: 6.0 - 8.0; dH range: 5 - 13 benthopelagicClimateTropicalDistributionSouth America: Amazon River basin, in Peru, Colombia, and Brazil, along the Ucayali, Solim?es and Amazon rivers; rivers of Amap? (Brazil), Rio Oyapock in French Guiana; Essequibo River in Guyana.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries:; aquarium: highly commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (tm More south & central american cichlidsPearl cichlidGeophagus brasiliensisSatanoperca leucostictaCrenicichla lenticulataCrenicichla lacustrisJaguar guapoteParachromis managuensisChameleon cichlidAustraloheros facetusSee all south & central american cichlids SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Aquarium care parameters compiled, checked and converted to metric and imperial units by Guppies.za.net.Last updated 28 September 2026