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Variety of Angelfish

Silver angelfish

Pterophyllum scalare

One of 9 varieties of Pterophyllum scalare · See all varieties →

FreshwaterFish

Silver angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Varieties · Pterophyllum scalare

See all 9 →

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–86°F
24–30°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
5.9 in
15 cm
Minimum tank
53 gal
200 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Substrate spawner
Rarity
Very common
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
South America

Overview

The silver angelfish is the plain fish that every other variety is graded against. It is easy to keep in a tall community tank, where it stays mostly peaceful.

Did you know

The silver angelfish's dark bars are not fixed markings. An angelfish can drop them almost completely when it sleeps, sulks or squares up to another fish. A silver that has just been netted often looks washed out for a few minutes.

Caring for the silver angelfish

A tall tank of at least 53 gal (200 L) suits silver angelfish, whose bodies grow noticeably taller than they are long. Set it up with driftwood and broad-leaved plants for vertical structure. Silvers spend most of their time in the middle of the tank. When you choose them, look for even bars, a clean back edge to the dorsal fin and long, unbroken ventral filaments.

Hold the temperature at 75 to 86°F (24 to 30°C) and the pH at 6.0 to 7.5. Silvers eat quality flakes or pellets, and frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp vary the diet.

Silvers are mostly peaceful, alone or in a group, but they are cichlids all the same. Small tetras and other tiny fish can end up eaten, and fin-nippers are best avoided.

Silver angelfish are substrate spawners that lay their eggs on a vertical surface, such as a broad leaf or slate. A bonded pair defends its spawning site. Tank-bred silvers can still carry hidden recessives such as gold or pearlscale. A pair of silvers sometimes throws fry that look nothing like the parents.

Good to know

The silver angelfish is the wild type in angelfish genetics, written +/+ at each of the loci the color forms change. It has no color mutation to pass on, so a silver crossed to a single dose form splits the spawn evenly. Silver by black lace, for example, gives about half of each. Shops list it as Silver or simply Angelfish.

In the wild

The silver angelfish is the wild pattern rather than a bred form, the same look that swims in South America. Nearly every silver in a shop is hatchery raised, from stock kept in tanks for decades. Wild caught fish do reach the trade, but they are usually sold under a collection locality rather than as Silver.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The silver 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

Is a silver angelfish a different species from the angelfish?

No. A silver angelfish is a variety of the angelfish, Pterophyllum scalare, and it wants the same tank, water and food as the species.

What size tank does a silver angelfish need?

A silver angelfish needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What does a silver angelfish eat?

A silver angelfish eats quality flakes or pellets. Frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp add variety.

How big does a silver angelfish get?

An adult silver angelfish reaches about 5.9 in (15 cm).

How does a silver angelfish breed?

Silver angelfish are substrate spawners that lay eggs on a vertical surface, such as a broad leaf or slate. Because silvers can carry hidden recessives such as gold or pearlscale, a pair sometimes throws fry unlike the parents.

Related species