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Altum angelfish

Pterophyllum altum

FreshwaterFish

Altum angelfish (Pterophyllum altum)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
79–90°F
26–32°C
pH
5.5–6.5
Adult size
7.1 in
18 cm
Minimum tank
79 gal
300 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
Substrate spawner
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Colombia, Venezuela

Overview

The Altum angelfish is a tall, slow-moving cichlid for a quiet tank of soft, acidic water. It is a fish for experienced keepers.

Did you know

The Altum angelfish stands out for its height rather than its length. Including the trailing dorsal and anal fins, a full-grown adult can measure close to 50 cm from top to bottom. That makes it one of the tallest of all aquarium fish.

Caring for the Altum angelfish

Give Altum angelfish a tank of at least 79 gal (300 L) that is taller than average. The extra height lets adults carry their long fins without damage. Height matters more than floor space, so use tall plants and vertical driftwood or bogwood roots to break up sight lines. Keep the tank quiet, with gentle filtration and dim lighting.

Use soft water with little mineral content, at 79 to 90°F (26 to 32°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. Add leaf litter or botanicals to lower the pH and tint the water. In the wild they feed in the middle and upper water. Offer small live and frozen foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp and daphnia, alongside a quality flake or micro pellet.

Altum angelfish can live alone, but they do best in a group of five or six. They stay fairly peaceful and should be kept away from fast or nippy tank mates. Calm mid-water schoolers such as pencilfish or larger tetras make good company.

Altum angelfish are open substrate spawners, laying rows of eggs on a cleaned vertical surface such as a broad leaf or wood. A spawning pair holds a small territory around its chosen site, and both parents guard the eggs and fry. They are rarely bred in home aquariums.

Good to know

The Altum angelfish, Pterophyllum altum, is the largest of the three wild angelfish and belongs to the cichlid family, Cichlidae. Its name altum means tall or high, a reference to the deep, laterally compressed body. Most Altum angelfish offered for sale are still wild caught.

In the wild

Altum angelfish come from the upper Orinoco and Rio Negro basins, on the border between Colombia and Venezuela. They live among submerged roots and branches in slow blackwater. That water is warm, very soft and strongly acidic, stained the color of weak tea by tannins from fallen leaves and wood.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Altum angelfish is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does an Altum angelfish need?

An Altum angelfish needs at least 79 gal (300 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does an Altum angelfish need?

An Altum angelfish is comfortable at 79–90°F (26–32°C) with a pH of 5.5–6.5.

What does an Altum angelfish eat?

An Altum angelfish eats small live and frozen foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp and daphnia. Give it a quality flake or micro pellet alongside them.

How big does an Altum angelfish get?

An adult Altum angelfish reaches about 7.1 in (18 cm).

How does an Altum angelfish breed?

Altum angelfish are open substrate spawners. A pair lays rows of eggs on a cleaned leaf or length of wood, and both parents guard the eggs and fry. They are rarely bred in home aquariums.

Related species