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Variety of Angelfish

Veil angelfish

Pterophyllum scalare

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

Also known as Veiltail Angelfish

FreshwaterFish

Veil angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare)

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

Overview

The veil angelfish is a long-finned form, set apart by a fin trait rather than a color. It is easy to keep in a calm, tall community tank.

Did you know

The veil angelfish's long fins are inherited separately from color, so they land on any pattern: veil koi, veil marble, veil black lace. A bag of assorted veils can hold fish that look nothing like one another and still be siblings from one spawn.

Caring for the veil angelfish

A veil angelfish grows taller than it is long, so it needs a tall tank of at least 53 gal (200 L). Add driftwood and broad-leaved plants for vertical structure. Long fins snag on sharp decor and drag in strong flow, so give it open swimming space and a gentle current. Shops sell veils as assorted or mixed, so you take the patterns that are in the tank.

Keep the water at 75 to 86°F (24 to 30°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Feed quality flakes or pellets with frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp.

Veil angelfish are mostly peaceful and do fine alone or in a group. Their trailing dorsal, anal and tail fins are an easy target for nippers, so tank mates matter more than with a standard angelfish. Leave out fin-nippers, and skip tiny fish such as small tetras, which can end up eaten.

They are substrate spawners that lay their eggs on a vertical surface, such as a broad leaf or a piece of slate. A bonded pair defends its spawning site. Breeders often pair a veil with a standard finned fish rather than with another veil.

Good to know

The veil angelfish's fin gene is dominant over standard fins, and the dose shows. One dose (V/+) gives the ordinary veil. Two doses give a super veil, with much longer, narrower fins that droop as the fish ages. Two veils bred together give about a quarter super veils. Norton and Angels Plus both report that those double dose fish grow slower and are less vigorous.

In the wild

The veil angelfish exists only in domestic stock, and no wild angelfish carries it. Joanne Norton described veil as an autosomal dominant gene in FAMA in September 1982. Her account is still the one breeders work from.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The veil 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 veil angelfish a different species from the angelfish?

No. A veil 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 veil angelfish need?

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

What does a veil angelfish eat?

A veil angelfish eats quality flakes or pellets, with frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp for variety.

How big does a veil angelfish get?

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

How does a veil angelfish breed?

Veil angelfish are substrate spawners that lay eggs on a vertical surface, such as a broad leaf or slate. Breeders often pair a veil with a standard finned fish rather than with another veil.

Related species